Questions

952. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to determine when an area is deemed to have insufficient special class capacity in free-scheme schools; the inputs used in making such determinations, including the role of demographic projections and current applications; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

953. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning for special class provision is based on forward-looking demographic and geographic data rather than reactive identification of demand at the point of application; if she will outline any planned reforms to improve early identification of need for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond; and i…

954. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way the travel distance is weighted in the decision-making process when sanctioning new special classes; whether maximum or recommended travel distances for children with additional needs are applied in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43902/26]

955. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of research conducted by agencies (details supplied) indicating that approximately 49% of parents would send their children to a Gaelscoil if one were available locally; the measures being taken to expand access to Irish-medium primary and post-primary education throughout the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

956. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of primary and post-primary students outside the Gaeltacht who currently have access to Irish-medium education in their local area; the number of areas currently without access to a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43909/26]

957. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the long-term demand for Irish-medium education nationally; whether there are plans to establish additional Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí in areas of identified demand; and if she will provide details of any such plans. [43910/26]

958. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has examined international best practice, including the expansion of Welsh-medium education in Wales, in developing policies relating to Irish-medium education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43911/26]

959. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has considered the proposals contained in the draft education (amendment) bill prepared by an organisation (details supplied); whether her Department has engaged with the organisation regarding the proposed legislation; and her position on measures aimed at sustainably increasing the provision and capacity of Irish-medium education. [43912/2…

960. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael Cahill den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi thaighde a rinne Amárach, Ireland Thinks agus Kantar, ar taighde é a léiríonn go gcuirfeadh thart ar 49% de thuismitheoirí a bpáistí chuig Gaelscoil dá mbeadh ceann ar fáil go háitiúil; agus cad iad na bearta atá á nglacadh chun rochtain ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a leathnú ar fud na tíre. [43913/26]

961. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael Cahill den Aire Oideachais agus Óige cén céatadán de dhaltaí bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht atá in ann teacht ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge go háitiúil faoi láthair; cé mhéad limistéar nach bhfuil rochtain acu ar Ghaelscoil ná ar Ghaelcholáiste [43914/26]

962. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael Cahill den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an ndearna a Roinn measúnú ar an éileamh fadtéarmach ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar bhonn náisiúnta; an bhfuil pleananna ann Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí breise a bhunú i limistéir ina bhfuil éileamh léirithe; agus an dtabharfaidh sí sonraí faoi na pleananna sin. [43915/26]

963. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael Cahill den Aire Oideachais agus Óige ar scrúdaigh a Roinn dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta, lena n-áirítear fás an oideachais trí Bhreatnais sa Bhreatain Bheag, agus beartais maidir le hoideachas lán-Ghaeilge á bhforbairt [43916/26]

964. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael Cahill den Aire Oideachais agus Óige ar bhreithnigh sí na moltaí atá sa Bhille Oideachais (Leasú) atá dréachtaithe ag IMEASC; an ndeachaigh a Roinn i dteagmháil le IMEASC maidir leis an reachtaíocht atá beartaithe; agus cén seasamh atá aici maidir le bearta chun soláthar agus cumas an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge a mhéadú ar bhealach inbhuanaithe? [43917/26]

965. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total expenditure on the school transport scheme in each of the past five years, 2021 to 2025 inclusive; the projected expenditure under the scheme for 2026 and 2027; the estimated additional cost for 2026 and 2027 arising from the recommendations contained in the recent review of the school transport scheme; the measures she intends to take to e…

966. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the school building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43960/26]

967. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige i dtaca leis a freagra ar ceist 40807/26 ar 28/05/2026 an bhfuil sí ag rá nach mbeadh aon Gaelscoil nua ann ach amháin má thagann fás déimeagrafach sa cheantair in aineoinn éileamh d’oideachas in’ár dTeanga Náisiúnta bheith léirithe, cad é a slat tomhais atá nó a bhéas á úsáid chun an fás daonra seo a mheas. [44017/26]

968. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken, or plans to undertake, a review of special needs assistant employment contracts to examine whether separate contractual arrangements are warranted for primary, post-primary and special school settings, having regard to differences in working hours, school calendars and duties; and if she will make a statement on …

969. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the 2026 Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp Programme for DEIS primary schools does not include SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44109/26]

970. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of assessments of educational needs which were conducted by the NCSE in 2025, by area; the number conducted by the NCSE and the number outsourced; the total amount spent on outsourcing for each of the past five years; and the number of assessments to which this relates, in tabular form. [44155/26]

971. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have undergone an assessment of their health and educational needs via both the NCSE and the HSE, or whether she keeps sufficient records on this matter to ensure efficiency and no duplication of efforts. [44156/26]

972. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the protocols in place to eliminate duplication of assessment efforts by the NCSE and the HSE; the efforts made to streamline this process; the protocols in place to avoid duplication in outsourcing to third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44157/26]

973. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school’s ASA application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44169/26]

974. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an interim solution could be facilitated while a school’s ASA application is being considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44170/26]

975. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the policies or programmes in place to ensure greater participation in the arts by those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. [41483/26]

976. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 715 of 17 February 2026, the amount sought by the developer of an ice hockey arena in Cherrywood; the amount granted by his Department and any agencies under his remit; and the reason no number was provided in the previous response. [41494/26]