Parliamentary questions

721. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education to identify, by body name and associated skills gap, any skills gaps identified by the chairperson of that board in correspondence to her Department or a Minister in respect of the composition of the board of the body referred, for each year between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; to identify any body where the chairperson of that board …

722. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of her Department, at least one member of the audit and risk committee of that board has recent, relevant financial experience for each of those years; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to the year or years…

723. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of her Department, that the board has a terms of reference; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to year or years where no terms of reference existed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12204/25]

724. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if plans are in progress for a redress scheme for people who suffered either physical or mental abuse in school; if so, the conditions of this redress; if not, when redress will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12284/25]

725. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education when her Department intends to implement the proposed reduction in the distance eligibility criterion for post-primary students under the school transport scheme from 4.8 km to 2 km; if she will provide details on the planned timeline and any associated budgetary or operational considerations; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

726. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made regarding the number of sraith pictiúr students in the 2026 Leaving Certificate class will be required to learn for their Irish oral exam; and if they will need to learn ten or 20 sraith pictiúr, given that the number was reduced to ten in recent years as an accommodation for the Covid-19 pandemic. [12292/25]

727. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 25 September 2024, if the analysis of the survey relating to school caretakers’ work pattern, terms and conditions has been completed and reviewed by her Department; if she or her officials have or intend to engage with the relevant union representing school caretakers on foot of the surv…

728. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the new premises for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12313/25]

729. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the grants and payments made to a company operating special playgroups for autistic children (details supplied) between the years 2000 and 2011; the funding streams under which these were made; the amounts paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12333/25]

730. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education her plans to progress an application to provide suitable accommodation for a school (details supplied); if the building project will be expedited as the demand for school places continues to grow and the current school infrastructure is not fit for purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12334/25]

731. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Dublin 11 that expressed an interest in opening a special class in the years 2023-2025; the number of these applications that were refused; the reasons given for any such refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12338/25]

732. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Dublin 11 that were contacted by the National Council for Special Education in relation to the opening of a special class; the number of these schools that declined to open a special class; if her Department is aware of the reasons for any of these schools declining the opening of a special class; and if she will mak…

733. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education when she will ensure all schools are provided with free period products to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12349/25]

734. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the number of schools offering PE as a Leaving Certificate exam subject per county in the 2024-2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12355/25]

735. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of the number and name of the schools in Kildare that have expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the past two years and to date in 2025; the number of schools that were refused, granted and are appealing decisions; and the rationale for the refusing applications. [12384/25]

736. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of the number and name of the schools in Kildare that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the percentage of those schools declined; and the rationale for refusing applications. [12385/25]

737. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education how her Department can further financially assist schools that are enthusiastically implementing the Green School Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12387/25]

738. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education to list the functions, roles and services that were carried out and delivered by civil service or State agency workers; the cost to the State of each contract since the implementation of the Building Momentum public service agreement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12438/25]

739. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for details on the number of schools in Balbriggan which expressed an interest in opening a specialist class for the school year 2025/2026, the number of these applications refused; the reasons for refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12453/25]

740. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for details on the number of schools in Balbriggan approached by the national council for special education to open a specialist class in the last three years in tabular form; what percentage the schools declined; the reasons given for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12454/25]

741. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for the number of schools in Fingal west that expressed an interest in opening a specialist class for the school year 2025/2026, the number of these applications refused; the reasons for refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12455/25]

742. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for details on the number of schools in Fingal west approached by the national council for special education to open a specialist class in the last three years in tabular form; what percentage of the schools declined; the reasons given for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12456/25]

743. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for emergency funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12493/25]

744. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education whether there is any funding available to a DEIS Band 1 school seeking to refurbish a room and provide furniture for its use as a library. [12499/25]

745. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to specific proposals for a right to switch off for secondary school students given the increased communication from teachers to students via email; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12502/25]