Questions

78. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the growth in public service numbers since 2021, by sector and by frontline and non-frontline grades, in tabular form; and how this data is informing his approach to the next public service pay agreement. [74770/26]

79. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on plans to develop flood mitigating measures in the vicinity of Shannon town and Shannon Airport in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74786/26]

80. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the basis on which it was decided to award excessive salary increases to the CEOs of many State bodies. [74938/26]

81. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures being taken to ensure that the continued digitalisation of public services does not disadvantage older people, people with disabilities or those with limited digital literacy; and the way in which access to in-person and telephone services will be maintained where needed. [74918/26]

82. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will commit to meaningful public sector pay talks with the unions representing public sector workers. [74851/26]

83. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will give assurances that 100% of revenue collected through the carbon tax will be ringfenced for climate action measures to facilitate a just transition, and that all unspent carbon tax revenue will be carried over to the following year rather than returned to the Exchequer; and if he wil…

84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her plans to remove a diagnosis as an eligibility criteria for a special education placement; the extent of engagement with teachers and their representatives in developing her plans to date; the extent to which the impact such a change would have on demand for resources has been assessed and the approach taken to this asses…

85. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for redesignation of mild general learning disability schools. [75316/26]

86. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the number of applications for a special place in County Kildare; the age profile of the applicants; the number that have been successful; and the plans to provide a school place for those that were unsuccessful. [74947/26]

87. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school pupils in County Clare who are currently receiving additional teaching support for literacy difficulties, including dyslexia; the way in which this compares with the previous three school years; and the waiting lists for specialist reading classes for the same years. [74989/26]

88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount spent on the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments, SCPA, in each of the past five school years, broken down by primary and secondary and year, in tabular form. [74817/26]

89. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider expanding AI literacy in schools, including the teaching of the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in primary schools and curriculum-based AI literacy modules for students at junior cycle and senior cycle. [74868/26]

90. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which she plans to respond to recent school attendance data; and the supports and training her Department has in place for school leaders, home school community liaisons, HSCLs, teachers and SNAs regarding emotionally based school non-attendance, EBSNA. [74815/26]

91. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that taking a teacher away from a school (details supplied) will result in a 50% increase in class sizes from 22 students to 33 students; if she is aware of concerns of parents about the ensuing detrimental impacts on the education and well-being of their children; if she is aware of the impact this will have on autistic students; i…

92. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools in Kildare North will benefit from the additional investment in special education from budget 2027, particularly in relation to the provision of special classes, special education teachers and SNAs. [74874/26]

93. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the impact that changes to special education school transport and escort provision have on children with special educational needs. [74578/26]

94. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding to be provided for youth services in 2027; the number of additional staff to be recruited through this funding, broken down by role, funding scheme and county; the net increase in staffing compared with 2026; and the timetable for recruitment and filling these posts, in tabular form. [74607/26]

95. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a full update on a proposed new school (details supplied). [74704/26]

96. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she is taking to ensure safe staffing levels in all special schools and to ensure that all children attending special schools can access a full school timetable. [73911/26]

97. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed new school building for a school (details supplied); the current status and timeline for the project; and the extent to which the proposed relocation of the school to Dangan would facilitate the release of the existing Nun’s Island campus for the future expansion of University of Galway. [74719/26]

98. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes operating, and the number of places available, in each school year from 2022-2023 to 2026-2027, broken down by county, in tabular form; and her views on the value of early intervention classes to autistic children who have difficulty transitioning to mainstream primary school/primary special school. [74605/26]

99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the increasing use of digital devices in secondary schools from an educational outcome's perspective and a cost to parents/guardians perspective given the move away from digital devices in some countries. [74818/26]

100. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the provision of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); the basis for the delay in advancing this project; and if she will facilitate a meeting with school management to allow them to outline their concerns regarding the delay. [73605/26]

101. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to improve the school transport scheme for families in rural counties such as Mayo, particularly where pupils have experienced difficulties accessing school bus services; and ask that she make a statement on the matter. [74935/26]

102. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proportion of the additional school building and capital investment funding announced in Budget 2027 is expected to support school accommodation projects in rapidly growing constituencies such as Kildare north. [74875/26]