Parliamentary questions

933. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the school building project for a school (details supplied) the all-Irish second-level school in Cork city centre; the current stage of the project; the expected timeline for its progression to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43480/26]

934. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a full list of all autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classes in Cork city and county, broken down by school and including the number of such classes in each school; the projected provision of additional ASD classes to meet rising demand in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43481/26]

935. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for additional special needs assistant support submitted by a school (details supplied) for the 2026-2027 school year; the current status of the review of the school’s SNA allocation; when a decision is expected to be communicated to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43525/…

936. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 590 of 26 May 2026, the specific additional measures she is considering to support principals of special schools in recognition of the unique complexity and demands of their roles; if she will outline any proposals to provide differentiated allowances, enhanced administrative supports, or re…

937. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to improve the compensation of trainee NEPS psychologists to meet the national minimum wage; if she will provide pay parity for training NEPS psychologists with HSE training psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43691/26]

938. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider decoupling the contribution towards fees from living expenses within the bursary structure for trainee NEPS psychologists, given the erosion of trainees' real living standards as fees increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43693/26]

939. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of the fuel support for school transport services who are ineligible to apply for road transporters support scheme; the timeline for when they will be able to avail of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43707/26]

940. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications made under the additional school accommodation scheme in County Kildare that are awaiting approval; and the estimated timeline for decisions on each application. [43745/26]

941. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Section 29 appeals relating to school admissions received during the 2025-2026 school year; the number upheld; and the average processing time for appeals. [43746/26]

942. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the first phase of the new education therapy services will be rolled out specifically in County Louth (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43781/26]

943. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the proposed changes to autism assessments will impact children’s access to specialist school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43800/26]

944. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure strengthened record-keeping with regard to student support files, given the recent findings of the Inspectorate in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43803/26]

945. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary and post-primary students in south Kildare who have been unable to secure a school place for the 2026/27 academic year; the steps being taken by her Department to address capacity pressures in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43827/26]

946. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special class places and special school places that will be provided in County Kildare for the 2026/27 school year; whether she is satisfied that provision will meet identified demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43828/26]

947. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she intends to issue updated guidance to schools regarding the use of generic and non-branded uniforms in order to reduce costs for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43832/26]

948. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an additional year can be provided for a student in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43858/26]

949. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the issue of a sanction letter for assistive technology support for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43880/26]

950. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the level of demand for a school transport service from the Ahawilk and Inniskean areas to a school (details supplied) where approximately 14 to 15 post-primary students have applied through the recent Bus Éireann portal but currently have no access to a transport service; and if she w…

951. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to reinstate the bus service for 20 primary school children in the Moanroe area who are currently without a school transport service to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43894/26]

952. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to determine when an area is deemed to have insufficient special class capacity in free-scheme schools; the inputs used in making such determinations, including the role of demographic projections and current applications; and if she will make a …

953. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning for special class provision is based on forward-looking demographic and geographic data rather than reactive identification of demand at the point of application; if she will outline any planned reforms to improve early identification of need for the 2026-2027 school ye…

954. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way the travel distance is weighted in the decision-making process when sanctioning new special classes; whether maximum or recommended travel distances for children with additional needs are applied in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43902/26]

955. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of research conducted by agencies (details supplied) indicating that approximately 49% of parents would send their children to a Gaelscoil if one were available locally; the measures being taken to expand access to Irish-medium primary and post-primary education throughout the State; and if she will make a statem…

956. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of primary and post-primary students outside the Gaeltacht who currently have access to Irish-medium education in their local area; the number of areas currently without access to a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43909/26]

957. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the long-term demand for Irish-medium education nationally; whether there are plans to establish additional Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí in areas of identified demand; and if she will provide details of any such plans. [43910/26]