Parliamentary questions

55. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to introduce an enhanced "DEIS Plus" programme for schools in areas of high deprivation. [8371/25]

56. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans for a special school in the Youghal and wider east Cork area to alleviate the long waiting lists; if her Department will consider modular or rapid build to speed up the process to allow these children have a school unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8513/25]

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on Strand I and II of the educational therapy support service; if she intends to transition this service to a national therapy service in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8488/25]

58. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the situation faced by parents and children in Dungarvan and west Waterford whereby 22 children have been placed on a waiting list for the local special school; if he understands the anxiety, anger and anguish of the parents of these children; if the Government will commit to drastically expanding special school capa…

59. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education for an update on her Department's report "School Transport 2030"; the number of pilot bus schemes now in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8131/25]

60. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants, and special classes to ensure that every child with special or additional needs receives appropriate supports in their preferred school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8426/25]

61. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans to improve occupational therapy services in Youghal and the wider east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8514/25]

62. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the school inclusion model; to outline future plans for the delivery of holistic therapies in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6002/25]

63. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she has had any discussion on the need for a secondary school in Newcastle, County Dublin, given the enrolment pressure in the surrounding areas, as well as the need for continued expansion of the school transport scheme to residents in Newcastle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8472/25]

64. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to increase access to, and participation in, transition year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8489/25]

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase investment in education per student to at least a level equal to OECD average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8428/25]

66. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education what engagement she has had with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to pensions for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8591/25]

67. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education when a new school building will be provided for a school (details supplied); what stage of the development process the project is at; when construction will commence and be completed; if she will visit the school to allay the concerns of staff, students and parents in relation to delays in the delivery of the project; and if she will make a …

68. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Education if her Department is planning to introduce extra time in examinations for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8474/25]

69. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the expected timeline for delivery of the additional school accommodation scheme project and the review of the stage 2b report for a school (details supplied). [6815/25]

70. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the level of training which teachers in mainstream classes receive in the Junior Cycle Level 2 Learning program (L2LP) course; if schools are allocated hours to provide specialised teaching for those accessing L2LP and L1LP within the mainstream classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8…

71. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the extent to which defective concrete blocks were used in the construction of school buildings across the State; the impact of the use of same on schools; the number of schools and the locations of schools which have reported or raised concerns about the presence of defective concrete blocks in their school build…

72. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of vacant teaching posts that exist within the primary school system and in the Gaelscoil sector. [7724/25]

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase recruitment and retention of primary and secondary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8425/25]

74. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education if she will allow a school (details supplied) to adopt a blended Irish-English approach instead of a solely Irish-language approach, enabling the school to address pupil numbers while maintaining a strong Irish-language ethos; and if she will meet with the principal and management to discuss these issues and grant the school the necessary fl…

75. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she plans to re-introduce the summer works scheme in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5538/25]

76. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education to report on the progress of the Dublin 15 taskforce on special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8536/25]

77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when additional special classes will be sanctioned; if she will ensure that all students with additional needs will have an appropriate school place for the 2025/2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8601/25]

78. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education her proposals to ensure that there is a suitable school place for every child with special educational needs in County Monaghan in September 2025. [8609/25]

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education what action will be taken regarding the oversubscribing of a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny despite a new building recently being constructed; if any additional places can be provided to the school given the significant demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/25]