Questions

505. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the new school building project (details supplied). [64563/26]

506. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason job-sharing teachers are not permitted to undertake substitute teaching in primary schools during the 2026-2027 school year; if this policy will be urgently reviewed given the ongoing difficulty schools face in securing qualified substitute teachers; and if job-sharing teachers will be permitted to undertake substitute work on days whe…

507. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) with an exceptionally high concentration of socio-economic disadvantage and complex educational needs can be reassessed for DEIS status given it has been a number of years since an assessment has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64520/26]

508. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) with an exceptionally high concentration of socio-economic disadvantage and complex educational needs was excluded from DEIS; if she will review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64519/26]

509. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of the school bus ticket application; and if the decision will be reconsidered given the circumstances. [64517/26]

510. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if school bus tickets will be issued to a family (details supplied). [64574/26]

511. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider a summer works application (details supplied) given this is a major child health and safety concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64580/26]

512. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot; the number of schools and pupils participating; the evaluation undertaken to date; and if she will consider extending or placing school-based counselling services on a permanent and wider national footing. [64583/26]

513. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that further investments will be made and strategies developed in the area of school counselling, particularly in the areas of prevention and early intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64588/26]

514. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for a refurbishment grant for a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64633/26]

515. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on school transport provision for students (details supplied). [64625/26]

516. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have compulsory fees in both primary and secondary level; and the number of schools that take children out of class to ask them the reason they are not paying fees. [64613/26]

517. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she will review correspondence (details supplied); if she will clarify the circumstances under which a school transport ticket can be offered to a parent before payment has been made, given that the terms and conditions of the scheme require advance payment; and whether this practice is consistent with departmental policy. [64609/26]

518. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department and the National Council for Special Education will grant a request from a school (details supplied) to open an additional special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64644/26]

519. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review the case of persons (details supplied); if she will intervene with Bus Éireann to allow the existing taxi service to accommodate the two children concerned without further delay; and the reason administrative approval has not yet been granted given that transport has already been sanctioned by her Department. [64599/26]

520. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classrooms to be delivered in the new school building for a school (details supplied); if this number has been reduced due to a withdrawal of funding; the way in which this decision was made; and the consultation process with the school on the matter. [64597/26]

521. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to intervene to ensure a school (details supplied) can open a second ASD class as soon as possible; if the NCSE will carry out a school visit during this term; if the recent cut to SET hours is reversed; and if their DEIS status will reviewed. [64665/26]

522. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth her current plans to introduce permanent formal therapeutic infrastructure in schools. [64693/26]

523. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the curriculum content in place at primary and post-primary schools regarding factual material concerning vaping and nitrous oxide. [64687/26]

524. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider issues raised regarding the review of the Leaving Certificate mathematics curriculum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64708/26]

525. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will respond to assertions that the content of mathematics higher paper 2026, was not a reasonable examination of the syllabus set by her Department with many questions considered obscure and challenging, particularly in the tight timeframe of the exam; and the analysis or response that has been actioned within her Department arising from conce…

526. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she will personally review the application made by a school (details supplied); if she is aware that in the last school year this school had a significant enrolment of children with higher needs and were not granted additional SNA support, resulting in 15 children who require SNA support left with no support; and if she is aware that Tusla Childr…

527. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she will review correspondence (details supplied); the steps that can be taken to increase capacity on the school bus serving the Swellan area of Cavan town; if she will consider the deployment of a double-decker bus on this route given that approximately 15 children are currently without school transport and no viable alternative exists. [64738/2…

528. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the stage 2A review of a school accommodation project at a school (details supplied); if she will include the project for priority consideration in the next tranche of the school building programme; to provide a clear and realistic timeline to tender and construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64747/26]

529. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review correspondence (details supplied); the steps that can be taken to increase capacity on school bus routes A26 and 1703 serving the Banaho and Crosskeys area; if she will consider replacing the existing 24-seater bus on route 1703 with a larger vehicle to accommodate all students; and if the area will be considered for inclusion…