Parliamentary questions

1134. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any analysis comparing the cost of the current eight-week block release model for funded postgraduate diplomas in special education with hybrid delivery models which do not require substitute teacher cover; and if she will provide the findings of any such analysis. [55056/26]

1135. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to expand eligibility for funded postgraduate diplomas in special education to further support mainstream class teachers who teach pupils with special educational needs, in recognition of the increasing inclusive education responsibilities within mainstream settings. [55057/26]

1136. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she accepts that expanding recognition of accredited Level 9 programmes in inclusive and special education could increase national capacity in special educational needs provision and reduce barriers for teachers seeking specialist qualifications; and if she will outline any plans to increase the number of funded trainin…

1137. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Teaching Council will review a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55109/26]

1138. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the 200 hours teaching practice to qualify for Droichead completion must be completed within a single academic year. [55135/26]

1139. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers employed in primary and post-primary schools in County Clare in each of the past five years; and the current number of teaching vacancies. [55148/26]

1140. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs employed in County Clare schools in each of the past five years. [55149/26]

1141. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the pupil-teacher ratio in each primary and post-primary school in County Clare. [55150/26]

1142. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teaching posts allocated to County Clare schools under DEIS, special education and language support programmes. [55151/26]

1143. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken, or intends to undertake, a review of the eligibility criteria for the post-primary schoolbooks scheme to examine whether support could be extended to students attending fee-paying post-primary schools; whether her Department has assessed the impact of the current eligibility criteria on fa…

1144. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the full membership of the AI External Advisory Taskforce will be published; if all members have now been appointed; if she will provide the names, affiliations and areas of expertise of each member; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55205/26]

1145. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a child in County Kildare (details supplied) will receive a special school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55312/26]

1146. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons for the delay in the commencement of a school transport route (details supplied); the reasons for the substantial delay in this route commencing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55345/26]

1147. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the Programme for Government commitment of bringing pupil teacher ratio levels down to European norms of 19:1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55352/26]

1148. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the online portal for school transport applications will be amended to allow applicants to nominate a pick-up and drop-off location rather than defaulting to a home address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55381/26]

1149. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the school transport options available to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55383/26]

1150. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the school transport options available to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55384/26]

1151. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the school transport options available to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55403/26]

1152. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the next steps she will take for a school (details supplied); to outline a timetable for the commencement of construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55425/26]

1153. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there will be additional funding provided to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare to employ a caretaker and a second secretary given the increasing demand on the school for both of these services [55444/26]

1154. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department to prioritise additional school accommodation applications, particularly where applications relate to special education classrooms or interim prefabricated accommodations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55459/26]

1155. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to reduce delays in progression of school building projects currently at Stage 2a and Stage 2b in Cork north-west; the average length of time these projects are spending at each stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55460/26]

1156. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools awaiting approval for prefabricated or modular accommodation for September 2026 in Cork north-west; the number of these applications relating to special education provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55461/26]

1157. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made in implementing the recommendation of the School Transport 2030 Report; the timeline for removing or amending the nearest school eligibility criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55462/26]

1158. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm the level of additional school transport pilot scheme that will operate for the 2026-2027 school year; the criteria used to select routes, the role of Bus Éireann in that selection process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55463/26]