Parliamentary questions

1249. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department covers the legal and administrative 'contract variation' costs imposed by public-private partnership (PPP) operators when a school attempts to upgrade its sports facilities using State sports capital funding; to clarify who holds the long-term maintenance liability and financial responsibility for sports infr…

1250. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 561 of 16 July 2026, if her Department is currently considering altering the procedures for primary schools to make rooms available for afterschool services; if her Department is currently considering making this process mandatory for all primary schools, given the current shortage of aft…

1251. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which wastewater capacity will be provided for a new special school (details supplied). [56778/26]

1252. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will support in Budget 2027 the expansion of a school-based experiential learning programme, delivered by an independent, not-for-profit organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56781/26]

1253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a pre-budget campaign (details supplied); the actions she will take to address the specific issues outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56791/26]

1254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of average class sizes at a primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56792/26]

1255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of average class sizes at a primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56793/26]

1256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding an initiative that seeks to reduce average class sizes at a primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56794/26]

1257. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding an initiative that seeks to address the number of teaching posts that are not filled across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56795/26]

1258. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a mechanism in place to support a primary school teacher that is experiencing burnout related to oversized classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56796/26]

1259. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding work ongoing within her Department to reduce the student-teacher ratio in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56797/26]

1260. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding work ongoing within her Department that seeks to increase the provision of special education teachers to ensure the best possible outcome for students that require additional support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56798/26]

1261. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the national average student teacher ratio in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56799/26]

1262. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the average student teacher ratio in primary schools in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56800/26]

1263. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address pay and conditions, including pensions in respect of school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56810/26]

1264. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of approved school places required in County Kerry at primary and post-primary level over the next five years; and the schools where capacity pressures have been identified. [56833/26]

1265. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of special education places available in Kerry; the demand for special educational needs places in Kerry; the number of special education classes sanctioned in Kerry in each of the years 2020 to date and for the school year 2026-2027, in tabular form. [56835/26]

1266. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants and special class places allocated to schools in County Kerry in each of the past five years. [56836/26]

1267. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently address an number of issues raised in relation to children's books in school libraries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56843/26]

1268. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of publicly owned buildings that were vacant on the latest date available, broken down by purpose and/or last previous use; the length of time each property has been vacant; the reason for vacancy in each case; the amount spent to maintain the property since it was first left vacant in each of the years 2020 to date, in tab…

1269. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average expenditure of schools in County Kerry on electricity and heating in each of the years from 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [56882/26]

1270. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the request by a school (details supplied) to provide a large-scale communication board to support students, particularly those with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57035/26]

1271. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the merits of providing a dedicated fund for schools to seek funding for a large scale communication board (details supplied) to support students, particularly those with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57037/26]

1272. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SEN ASD places that will be available in schools, both primary and post-primary, in the Dublin south-west area for the 2026-2027 academic year, in tabular form. [57056/26]

1273. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans for new schools or school extension within Dublin Mid-West due to the population increases; the funding associated with these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57077/26]