Parliamentary questions

516. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to move children from the special care unit at a school (details supplied); to detail the healthcare and teaching staff that will be allocated to the new special care unit at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3569/25]

517. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Ashbourne, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all sixth-class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Ashbourne, County Meath. [35…

518. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first-year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Laytown, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Laytown, County Meath. [3572/25]

519. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first-year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Dunshaughlin, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Dunshaughlin, County Meath.…

520. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first-year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Ashbourne, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Ashbourne, County Meath. [3574…

521. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first-year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Ratoath, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Ratoath, County Meath. [3575/25]

522. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first-year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Dunboyne, County Meath; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Dunboyne, County Meath. [3576/2…

523. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education the measures that are being taken to address the shortage of special needs assistants, particularly for students with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3585/25]

524. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if plans are in place to increase access to Gaelscoileanna in response to growing parental demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3586/25]

525. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if additional resources will be allocated to school-based mental health services to support students experiencing anxiety and depression; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3587/25]

526. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 23 October 2024, to provide an update on the large-scale project for a school (details supplied) under the school building programme; if a letter of acceptance has been issued; if a commencement date is available given the considerable delays already experienced by the school; and if she will make…

527. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department is taking to encourage civil servants in her Department to take or avail of special leave or career breaks, or other forms of leave to encourage and facilitate Ireland's 2026 EU Presidency, the Government "Career for EU" jobs strategy, and the Department's Gaeilge-Irish language policy and promotion;…

463. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education if she will increase provision to improve Gaeloideachas, including possible tax incentives for teachers who teach through Irish only in all-Irish medium schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2013/25]

464. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on civil servant status for all current school secretaries. [46180/24]

465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of civil servants in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in her Department and in agencies under the aegis of her Department who were on career break for longer than five …

466. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46205/24]

467. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, t…

468. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education what immediate measures her Department will implement to ensure that all children in Youghal have access to reliable school bus services. [46250/24]

469. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education her plans to address east Cork's infrastructure needs, such as school buses, in the coming years. [46252/24]

470. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to address the urgent need for the building project at a school (details supplied); the reasons for the delay in progressing past stage 2A, apply for planning permission, and move to the tender and construction stages; the reason the interim modular accommodation granted in September 2022 was subsequently reduced, resulting in inadequate f…

471. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will receive school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46281/24]

472. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to consider a special class or unit for ASD for a school (details supplied). [46282/24]

473. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the projected costs of reducing the staffing schedule for DEIS urban band 1 vertical schools to 16:1, DEIS urban band junior schools to 15:1, and DEIS urban band 1 senior schools to 19:1; and the cost for the 2025-26 school year, in tabular form. [46283/24]

474. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the status of the project for the transfer of a special school (details supplied); when funding will be made available; when the project will commence and be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46315/24]

475. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in respect of a building project; when it is likely that a response will issue in relation to a revised stage 1 report which was submitted by the school (details supplied) to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46326/24]