Questions

400. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she is aware that the new initiative allowing newly qualified teachers to secure contracts of indefinite duration may disadvantage experienced teachers who have worked continuously for several years but have not yet secured permanent or fixed-term positions; and whether consideration will be given to extending similar opportunities to teachers…

401. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department would consider a dedicated activity and inclusion grant for special classes participating in the Summer Programme, based on the additional costs associated with providing suitable activities, outings and community-based experiences. [68539/26]

402. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update to this Deputy in relation to application for an extension for a school building in County Cork (details supplied); whether her Department are using documents from a submission in April 2026 or otherwise; if she will provide a timeline on when the school management can expect a completion of the latest stage; and if sh…

403. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to significantly increase the capitation funding for schools in the upcoming budget. [68606/26]

404. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an líon páistí atá ag foghlaim ón mbaile i mbliana; an líon iarratas a rinneadh gach bliain le cúig bliana anuas; an líon iarratas atá comhlíonta, a shonrú i bhfoirm tábla [68490/26]

405. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a review or assessment available for a school (details supplied) in relation to their allocation under the home school community liaison; and her views whether the current allocation is sufficient. [68667/26]

406. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated full year costs should the basic capitation rate be increased to €310 per pupil. [68650/26]

407. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the financial pressures being experienced by primary schools arising from increases in day-to-day running costs such as heating, electricity, cleaning and insurance; if she will outline the current level of capitation funding available to primary schools; and her plans to increase the primary school capitation g…

408. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to criticisms in relation to the new leaving cert maths curriculum (details supplied); and if she can outline the work ongoing to address these concerns. [68678/26]

409. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the additional funding requirement for the rollout of DEIS plus in 2027; to provide an itemised breakdown of the projected additional costs; and to provide the estimated cost to include a further ten additional primary schools in the DEIS plus scheme. [68679/26]

410. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the status of the proposed building extension at a school (details supplied); the reason this project was omitted from the Department's recently approved list of school building projects, despite having reached the end of Stage 2(b), secured planning permission and been ready to proceed to tender for much of the past year; and to confirm…

411. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a county by county breakdown of the number of pupils availing of the school transport scheme for primary, secondary and special schools, in tabular form. [68687/26]

412. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the case of a school (details supplied) seeking a review of its shared Home School Community Liaison allocation has been brought to her attention; if her Department will afford the school an opportunity to present evidence of its current level of need; and if the allocation will be reviewed on that basis. [68720/26]

413. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to improve the data used to identify schools for the DEIS plus scheme, including the use of administrative data held by other Departments; the timeline for publication of further detail on the identification methodology; and whether schools not included in the scheme in 2026 will be reassessed using the updated model. [68719/26…

414. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the formal, alternative infrastructure the State examinations commission is establishing to authenticate additional assessment components of exams for home educated and medically vulnerable candidates, without forcing them to self-source school permissions from schools; the guidance that has been given to schools in cases where a student may have …

415. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanism available to a DEIS school to seek a review of its Home School Community Liaison allocation where the school can demonstrate that its existing allocation no longer meets current need; if no such mechanism exists, the means by which a school in that position may seek additional provision; and whether interim arrangements will be conside…

416. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of Action 3.1.1 of the DEIS Strategy Implementation Plan 2026–2028, which provides for a review of the allocation model for Home School Community Liaison coordinator posts; the expected completion date; whether schools currently sharing a coordinator post will be consulted; and whether the revised model will allow a school's allocation to…

417. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 65106/26 of 16 September 2026, the rationale for the difference in the level of fuel support provided to private bus operators under the road transporters support scheme and that provided to operators contracted to provide school transport services through Bus Éireann (details supplied); and if she will make a sta…

418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 65399/26 whether her Department has carried out or will carry out an assessment of the average cost incurred by families in preparing a child to return to primary and post primary school, including books, devices, voluntary contributions and transport, given that such costs are a matter for her Department; and if …

419. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a building project for a school (details supplied) to expand on site facilities which will include a kitchen. [68828/26]

420. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will clarify when a teacher (details supplied) will have their wages rectified; and if her Department will look into this case as a matter of urgency. [68824/26]

421. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide guidance to a parent who cannot secure a school place for their child in their new locality and has exhausted all application possibilities (details supplied); and to outline all options available to the family for assistance, including transport options, if any. [68852/26]

422. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied) regarding Budget 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68553/26]

423. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review an application for school transport for a student (details supplied). [68271/26]

424. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the Solar for Schools Programme specifications to facilitate the installation of battery storage in schools, thereby allowing them to retain and use more of the electricity they generate. [68211/26]