Education Policy

533. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a higher marking criteria for students who take the Junior Cycle Irish T1 exam than the T2 exam. [55455/25]

534. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware there appears to be a higher standard of marking for Junior Cycle students taking the Irish T1 exam than those taking the Irish T2 exam; and her views on whether this will influence parent’s decisions to send their children to an Irish medium school or if they will be more likely to attend an English speaking sc…

535. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that only 7% of students in Irish medium schools and schools in the Gaeltacht received a distinction in the Junior Cycle Irish exam; and the measures she is taking to improve these numbers. [55457/25]

924. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on discussions regarding the alignment of the Youthreach calendar year with the second level calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55414/25]

721. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to confirm that permission is required to use the words “campus” or “college” in the name of a business; the cost to apply for such permission; the information required to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52945/25]

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth her view on the Constitutional guarantee that parents shall be primary educators of their children; to elaborate on how her Department is working to vindicate that right; the reason she made no mention of parents in her comments launching a new education consultation process in July 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matt…

76. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a standard protocol for schools to follow when a student presents with mental health concerns; the way in which her Department monitors compliance with these protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52473/25]

78. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to introduce or expand peer support programmes or student-led mental health initiatives in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52476/25]

956. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the means by which the role of community education will be recognised and resourced in future strategies for adult learning and further education and training, in line with the recommendations of an organisation's (details supplied) pre-budget submission 2026. [51134/25]

957. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will meet with representatives of a body (details supplied), to hear directly the concerns of providers and learners about the sustainability of community education. [51135/25]

53. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that further investments will be made and strategies developed in the area of school counselling, particularly in the areas of prevention and early intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50515/25]

289. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Irish exemptions in post-primary schools, by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49886/25]

332. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider reducing primary school class sizes as outlined in the pre-Budget 2026 submission by an organisation (details supplied), specifically the proposal for a two-point reduction, to ensure more individual attention for students, particularly those with diverse educational needs; and if she will make a statement o…

336. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the Government’s strategy for addressing the underinvestment in primary and special education, particularly in relation to overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and the increasing demands placed on teaching staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50403/25]

337. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to reduce the workload of teachers in primary and special education settings, particularly in schools with large class sizes or those located in rural areas, given concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50404/25]

583. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if primary education measures, to reduce class sizes, increase school funding, support inclusive education and strengthen rural schools (details supplied) can be prioritised in Budget 2026. [49132/25]

584. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if primary education funding requests have been put forward by her Department to reduce class sizes, increase school funding, support inclusive education, and strengthen rural schools (details supplied) in advance of Budget 2026 preparations. [49133/25]

741. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if he is aware of the variation in compensation levels for Board members (details supplied); and if he intends to ensure pay equality for board members sitting on these interview panels. [46479/25]

847. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of the 45 special schools that are to be included in the new National Therapy Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45824/25]

848. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) is one of the 45 special schools to be included in the new National Therapy Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45825/25]

954. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she intends to increase the compensation of LMETB board members sitting on interview panels from €130 to €260, in line with those sitting on community school interview boards. [46480/25]

994. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth given the UK’s severe shortages of qualified physics teachers, affecting more than a quarter of state schools, if she will outline strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of STEM educators, particularly in remote areas such as Blarney, Mallow, and Glanmire. [46817/25]

1005. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the consideration her Department is giving to the establishment of a fully independent second level Gaelcholáiste in county Clare. [47023/25]

1043. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of her Department’s policy on the way in which schools funded by the State should facilitate parents who wish to withdraw their children from religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47430/25]

1044. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have reported having formal procedures in place to give effect to parents' wishes to withdraw their children from religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47431/25]