Parliamentary questions

349. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update in respect of a school (details supplied); the financial supports that are available outside of the schemes referenced; and if officials can include the school in the appropriate funding stream. [32193/26]

350. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the process and timeline for determining DEIS status for a school (details supplied); whether the socio-economic profile of the school is currently being examined as part of the DEIS identification process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32198/26]

351. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the respective roles of her Department, school boards of management and school patron bodies in the approval of external speakers into schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32210/26]

352. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there are mandatory national safeguarding standards that apply to all external speakers addressing students in primary and post-primary schools; and the minimum requirements that must be met in all cases. [32211/26]

353. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether Garda vetting is required for all external speakers delivering talks in schools; if not, the circumstances in which vetting is required; and whether responsibility for vetting rests with the school, patron body or another authority. [32212/26]

354. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any central record is maintained of external speakers invited into schools, including religious, civic, advocacy or community representatives; and if not, the way in which oversight of such engagements is ensured at national level. [32213/26]

355. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which complaints or concerns regarding external speakers in schools are recorded, investigated, and escalated; and the number of such complaints received in each of the past five years. [32214/26]

356. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanisms in place to ensure that material delivered by external speakers is age-appropriate, balanced, and consistent with the curriculum and ethos of the school; and whether any guidance is issued to schools in this regard. [32215/26]

357. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she accepts that while boards of management have autonomy in school operations, there remains a requirement for national consistency in safeguarding standards relating to external speakers; and if she will outline where the line of accountability lies in cases where concerns arise. [32216/26]

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any national guidance exists regarding conflicts of interests or transparency obligation for boards of management and parent associations; whether such bodies are required to maintain registers of interest; and whether she is satisfied that current governance arrangement ensure appropriate safeguarding and accountability in…

359. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of legal cases taken against her Department by parents or guardians in order to secure a school place for their child for the 2025-2026 academic year; if her Department will cover the legal costs of parents who had to go to court to obtain a school placement for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the…

360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools are under any obligation to provide or accept special education placements where capacity exists, particularly at post-primary level across all year groups; and the way consistency is ensured nationally where demand exceeds supply.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32259/26]

361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that there is a consistent national system for identifying and publishing availability of special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32260/26]

362. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the additional resources that will be made available to a school (details supplied) following the recent welcome announcements in respect of the DEIS programme; if she will detail the schedule being followed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32261/26]

363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed accommodation project for a school (details supplied) under the Department's school building programme; and the stage at which the project currently sits within the capital appraisal process. [32263/26]

364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons the proposed accommodation project for a school (details supplied) has not progressed to Stage 1B of the Department's capital approvals process, notwithstanding that an application was initially submitted in January 2020 and updated documentation was provided in August 2025. [32264/26]

365. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeline for the progression of a school (details supplied) accommodation project to Stage 1B; and whether a specific timeframe has been assigned within the Department. [32265/26]

366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used to prioritise school building projects for advancement within the capital programme; and how a school (details supplied) project ranks against those criteria. [32266/26]

367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration has been given to advancing a school (details supplied) accommodation project through a combined Stage 2A/2B process in light of the length of time elapsed since initial application; and if not, the reasons for same. [32267/26]

368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether funding has been provisionally allocated for a school (detail supplied) accommodation project within the current or forthcoming capital budgets; and the quantum of such funding, if applicable. [32268/26]

369. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent of engagement between her Department and the management authorities of a school (detail supplied) since January 2020 in relation to the proposed accommodation project; and the dates and outcomes of such engagements. [32269/26]

370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the accommodation needs of a school (details supplied) have been formally assessed by the Department; and if so, the findings of that assessment and the date on which it was completed. [32270/26]

371. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a school (detail supplied) accommodation project is currently included in the Department's published school building pipeline; and if so, the projected delivery timeframe associated with the project. [32271/26]

372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's policy position on schools operating for extended periods without permanent accommodation; and the measures in place to address cases where such arrangements persist over multiple decades. [32272/26]

373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the modular accommodation project for the second special class in a school (details supplied) in Durrow; the reason the design was not approved until 21 April 2026 despite the project commencing in mid-2025; the expected on-site commencement and operational dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter…