Questions

752. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any research carried out into the level of demand for Irish medium primary schools at a national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41575/26]

753. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any research carried out into the level of demand for Irish medium primary schools at county-by-county level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41576/26]

754. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any initiative in place that seeks to encourage the increase in the number of teachers at a primary school level that can teach entirely through Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41577/26]

755. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any initiative in place that seeks to encourage the increase in the number of teachers at a secondary school level that can teach entirely through Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41578/26]

756. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any initiative that seeks to address the shortage of teachers in Gaelscoileanna; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41579/26]

757. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any initiative that seeks to address the shortage of teachers in Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41580/26]

758. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will circulate a single email to all primary schools in mid-August 2026, in advance of the new school year and coinciding with Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, publicising Key to the EU (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41584/26]

759. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to previous correspondence (details supplied) if she will provide an update on plans to secure funding for the continuation of the pilot programme beyond December 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41586/26]

760. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding allocated to the July provision programme for 2026; whether this represents a reduction compared to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41587/26]

761. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether an assessment has been carried out on the impact of any reduction in July provision supports on children with additional educational needs and their families; and if she will provide details of same. [41588/26]

762. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to ensure that all eligible children can access July provision programmes in 2026, particularly given reported difficulties in securing places or staffing. [41589/26]

763. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places in ASD units in schools located in County Kilkenny for 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41590/26]

764. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places that will be available in ASD units in schools located in County Kilkenny for the next school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41591/26]

765. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a project will proceed on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41626/26]

766. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41658/26]

767. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally collects or monitors national data relating to reduced timetables involving students with special educational needs, including students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020, broken down by county and school type. [41674/26]

768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally records or monitors instances of repeated suspensions involving students with special educational needs, including students with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020. [41675/26]

769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any national review, assessment, or analysis of the use of reduced timetables, internal exclusions, repeated early collections, or other exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent students; and if so, to provide details of any findings, reports, recommendations, or actions arising. [41676/26]

770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight mechanisms that currently exist where a student with special educational needs is placed on a reduced timetable for an extended period; whether there are mandatory review requirements or reporting obligations; and whether external oversight by the National Educational Psychological Service, Tusla Educational Support Service, NCSE, or ano…

771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether their Department centrally collects or monitors data relating to internal exclusions, isolation practices, sensory withdrawal arrangements, or repeated early collection of students with special educational needs from schools; and if not, whether consideration is being given to introducing such monitoring arrangements. [41678/26]

772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined the impact of exclusionary educational practices on parental employment, family wellbeing, or reliance on carers' and social protection supports where parents are repeatedly required to remove children from school due to unmet educational or behavioural support needs. [41679/26]

773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the multidisciplinary therapeutic supports are currently available within mainstream schools, ASD units, and special schools, including access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioural support, psychology, and emotional regulation supports; and whether the Department has assessed whether existing provision is sufficient to meet…

774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined international evidence or best practice relating to therapeutic and trauma-informed educational approaches for neurodivergent students experiencing emotional dysregulation, school distress, or repeated exclusion from educational settings. [41681/26]

775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to undertake a formal national review into exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent children, including repeated suspensions, prolonged reduced timetables, and informal school removals; and if not, the reason no such review has been initiated. [41682/26]

776. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether guidance issued to schools regarding reduced timetables and exclusionary practices specifically addresses students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory regulation difficulties, trauma-related presentations, or co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions; and if so, to provide details of such guidance. [41683/26]