Parliamentary questions

78. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether it remains Government policy to provide early intervention class placements for autistic children aged three to five; if so, the way in which she reconciles that policy with the reduction in early intervention classes for the 2026-2027 school year; and whether her Department or the NCSE is planning any further reduction, red…

79. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a deputy principal will be considered for an increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46053/26]

80. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a person (details supplied) will be prioritised for a place in the autism hub of a school (details supplied). [46056/26]

81. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the areas in which there is a demand for the provision of Irish medium education from the findings of the primary schools survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46088/26]

82. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding progress of a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46112/26]

83. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person who has worked as a special needs assistant for many years can now contact her Department to enquire about their pension entitlements, given that the previously available dedicated pension phone line has been discontinued; the reason this phone line was removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount the transition year grant was per pupil in the 2024-2025 academic year, the 2025-2026 academic year; the total spend in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46120/26]

85. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 23 April 2026, the progress made to date by her Department in ensuring the use of a green area by schools (details supplied); if she expects this green area to be made accessible to students in time for the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the m…

86. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider amending the eligibility criteria for primary school teachers to access the supplementary panel, to allow teachers with maternity contracts to qualify, as well as teachers who have over three years teaching experience but do not hold a fixed term/ qualifying contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [461…

87. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider expanding types of contracts listed as ‘qualifying contract’ that primary school teachers must hold in order to qualify for the supplementary panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46131/26]

88. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has plans to recognise the invaluable experiences of young Irish teachers teaching abroad when it comes to their experience on incremental salaries pay scale, particularly post primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46135/26]

89. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the process in which her Department distinguishes between experience gained in public schools and private international schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46136/26]

90. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to entice more Irish teachers abroad who want to come home; if she will consider recognising their teaching experience abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46137/26]

91. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) under the emergency works scheme; when decisions will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46143/26]

92. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether temporary supports could be given to a school due to a reduction in enrolments and student numbers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46145/26]

93. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 17 December 2025, if she can provide an update on progress of the taskforce set to implement the Government’s commitment to ‘expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí’, as set out in the Programme for Government 2025; to outline any plan given by th…

94. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the teacher allocation for a school (details supplied); if the decision to reduce their allocation can be appealed; if so, to outline the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46208/26]

95. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding the proposed building extension for a school (details supplied). [46222/26]

96. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools in counties Roscommon and Galway that are projected to lose a mainstream teaching post for the 2026/2027 school year, due to enrolment falling marginally below the staffing schedule thresholds; and whether consideration will be given to additional flexibility for small rural schools. [46231/26]

97. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the application submitted by a school (details supplied) for an additional special needs assistant (SNA) allocation to support the delivery of its School-Based Summer Programme commencing on 22 June 2026; when a decision on the business case submitted by the school over a week ago is expected; an…

98. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the status of the project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46337/26]

99. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth when attaching an additional payment specifically to teachers in DEIS schools, the way in which her Department ensures this policy does not contribute to the labelling or stigmatisation of children attending DEIS schools. [46339/26]

100. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis on which it was decided that teachers, but not SNAs or other frontline staff, should receive the allowance for teachers in DEIS schools. [46340/26]

101. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the policy of attaching an additional payment is considered equitable when all school staff work collaboratively to support children with additional and complex needs. [46341/26]

102. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department assessed the impact the decision to attach an additional payment for teachers in DEIS school may have on staff morale and inclusivity within schools. [46342/26]