Questions

86. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education for an update on the programme for Government commitment to create a national therapy service; this be located in the National Council for Special Education or in her Department; when it will start to hire staff; it will start to provide therapy services to children in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21674/25]

87. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that the HSE has confirmed that it cannot provide a therapist allocation for the 12 new children who were due to start in (details supplied) and the existing 36 children do enjoy the services of allocated therapists, if she will consider asking either the NCSE or the proposed new national therapy service to intervene and provide equi…

750. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if the educational welfare officer as determined by the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 will intervene to first work with the families to address the issue of improving attendance for 15-year-olds currently enrolled on the youthreach programme or issue a school attendance notice to the parents prior to escalating the matter to the District Court; and if she will…

751. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education the marks required to pass ordinary level Leaving Certificate maths paper 1 and paper 2; if a student is completing the exam through Irish, if additional marks are given to the student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18518/25]

752. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education to clarify the Leaving Cert Covid-related grade inflation for the class of 2025, and how this compares to the class of 2024, as some students from 2024 will be competing for college places in 2025; and how is it considered fair to have different grade inflation levels. [18552/25]

753. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will report on Bus Éireann’s route to Kildare Town Community School; and if there is a waiting list. [18599/25]

754. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education if she or her Department is aware of a proposal for a post-primary special class catering to 'SEN Betweeners' in Youghal; if she has been in touch with the parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18601/25]

755. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if guidelines will be published to schools on the use of artificial intelligence as part of the Leaving Certificate; the impacts artificial intelligence could have on Leaving Certificate points in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18604/25]

756. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the extent to which artificial intelligence will be allowed during the process of students working on school projects for the Leaving Certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18605/25]

757. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if a place in an ASD unit will be provided for a child (details supplied) as to date they have not been enrolled in any special school; the reason this vulnerable child is not receiving the level of care they urgently need; and if she will insist on the services engaging with the family. [18606/25]

758. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education for an update on the new special school proposed for Nenagh announced in December 2024; in particular, the location of same, the progress on staffing and the approval by the appropriate regularity authorities; when registration will commence for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18632/25]

759. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18640/25]

760. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the timeframe and date for the installation of the promised prefab building at a school (details supplied); if this prefab building will be installed on time for the September 2025 intake of children as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18642/25]

761. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to ensure access to the single public service pension scheme for all school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18644/25]

762. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education if she or her Department have met with union representatives of school secretaries regarding their access to the single public service pension scheme since January 2024, the dates of any meeting; the steps her Department has taken or plan to take as a result of any engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18645/25]

763. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if she plans to withdraw public funding from fee paying schools. [18657/25]

764. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education to investigate the reason a family in County Kerry can not get on a school bus especially when there are plenty seats available (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18681/25]

765. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a school bus ticket for and investigate if a student in County Kerry can get on a school bus at a more suitable location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18682/25]

766. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the emergency works application of a school (details supplied). [18701/25]

767. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools nationwide participating in the module say yes to languages, in the school year 2024-2025; if she will detail cumulatively the languages offered in each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18702/25]

768. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the work of her Department’s schools reconfiguration for diversity initiative; the staff assigned to the initiative at Department grade level; the number of schools currently being assisted to transfer from denominational patrons to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local school communities; the locations of these…

769. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if it is her intention for further school retrofits to be funded in 2026 under the school sector decarbonisation pathfinder programme; if she will clarify if there is an application process to be considered for this scheme; the way in this this process is accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18725/25]

770. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if she will consider amending the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 where a ‘child’ is currently defined as six years old for the purpose of compulsory education, but now many children are attending school before the age of six and the existing legislation limits the ability of schools to undertake early intervention strategies with these children; and if she …

771. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if she will consider amending the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 where a ‘child’ is currently defined as six years old for the purpose of compulsory education, but now many children are attending school before the age of six and the existing legislation limits the ability of schools to undertake early intervention strategies with these children; and if she …

772. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if new schools (primary and secondary) under construction will be automatically furnished with photovoltaic panels on completion, particularly relating to Greystones Community College; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18731/25]