Parliamentary questions

424. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the policy on private companies offering free cooking demonstrations in primary schools, which could be seen as an opportunity to promote their products for sale; whether this is a decision solely for the board of management of a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32836/26]

425. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if schools which do not currently have DEIS status can submit an appeal with a view to being included in the programme; the way in which schools can submit such an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32873/26]

426. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the proposal from a school (details supplied) in relation to the acquisition of a plot of land for a new recreational area; the actions she will take to progress this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32933/26]

427. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can confirm receipt of a proposal from a school (details supplied) in relation to the acquisition of a plot of land for a new recreational area; if this is under review within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32934/26]

428. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support a school (details supplied) in relation to the acquisition of a plot of land for a new recreational area; the actions she will take to progress this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32935/26]

429. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will facilitate a meeting with management of a school (details supplied) in relation to the acquisition of a plot of land for a new recreational area; if this is under review within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32936/26]

430. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if assistance can be provided regarding a teacher registration (details supplied). [32943/26]

431. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will meet with a group in relation to building a special school (details supplied). [32974/26]

432. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth the grants available for scouting organisations from her Department; whether any of these can be used for international trips; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32976/26]

433. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rule for DEIS Plus school applications when they are within 700 metres of another school granted DEIS Plus status, in general and with regard to a school in Dublin 10 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33034/26]

434. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33035/26]

435. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a response to correspondence from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33056/26]

436. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a full breakdown of all special classes in County Mayo, including the number of places in each class, current occupancy levels, and projected availability for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33057/26]

437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who have been identified by psychologists and SENOs as requiring a special class or special school placement for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33058/26]

438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who are expected to attend mainstream schools with SNA support in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/26]

439. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Department's plan to ensure that all children identified as requiring a special class or special school placement in County Mayo for September 2026 will be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33060/26]

440. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the ongoing training and support that is provided to teachers and SNAs in County Mayo to enable them to support children with complex needs, particularly in cases where therapy services are understaffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33061/26]

441. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the policy regarding transport provision for special schools; the reason a special school in County Mayo has had to fundraise for a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33062/26]

442. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools operating under the block grant scheme are considered to be within the special education teaching (SET) allocation model for the purposes of Circular 0013/2026; if so, the reason such schools have not been allocated SET co-ordination hours in line with other schools within that model; if not, the basis on which th…

443. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the anomaly between the fee for Leaving Certificate and the fee charged to repeat the Leaving Certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33136/26]

444. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration can be given to universal access application to future proof a school’s access (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33137/26]

445. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the review of the assistive technology scheme for primary and post-primary schools, as referenced in the WHO Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment in Ireland (2026); when revised arrangements are expected to be implemented; whether the revised scheme will move from a diagnosis-led model to a functional, ne…

446. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the WHO report’s finding that assistive technology funded through schools is generally owned by the school rather than the pupil, resulting in loss of access during transitions, including from primary to post-primary education; if she will consider reforms to support student-centred continuity of assistive tech…

447. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she is taking, in conjunction with the Department of Health, to ensure that pupils who rely on assistive technology do not experience a loss of equipment, training or support during transitions, including progression to further or higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33150/26]

448. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department’s role in the proposed cross-departmental National Assistive Technology Programme, recommended in the WHO report; the way such a programme will improve equity, consistency and timeliness of assistive technology delivery in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33151/26]