Education Policy

296. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific, measurable actions being taken to address rising levels of racism, xenophobia, homophobia and transphobia in post-primary schools; the way her Department monitors and responds to evidence indicating that a significant proportion of minority ethnic and LGBTQ+ students experience bullying and harassment; the requirem…

297. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to ensure that all students, regardless of subject choice or participation in transition year, acquire essential life skills such as financial literacy, civic knowledge, digital safety and practical adult competencies before leaving the education system; whether her Department intends to expand or make mand…

302. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if parents can be criminally prosecuted where their child does not attend secondary school; and the specific failures or omissions on the part of a parent that must occur before a conviction can be secured under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. [32442/26]

306. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the full policy rationale and published evidence base for the revised English as an additional language allocation model at primary level, including the introduction of a two year eligibility limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31852/26]

307. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment process that will be used by schools to identify pupils with ongoing English language needs under the revised model and the specific supports available where such needs persist beyond the eligibility period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31853/26]

308. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether an equality screening or impact assessment was undertaken prior to the introduction of the revised English as an additional language criteria and to provide the findings of any such assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31854/26]

309. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils currently in receipt of English as an additional language supports at primary level and the estimated number who will cease to qualify under the revised criteria, and to outline any associated cost savings, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31855/26]

287. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, if the school-level data to be released in May will include school-level data for all multi-denominational schools as well as denominational schools; whether the full percentage response from all parents, including parents of preschool children and parents of children in …

288. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, the reason responses from the parents of preschool children and the parents of children in multi-denominational schools were excluded from the publication of preliminary results of the Parental Survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31535/26]

289. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, and given parents were not asked to identify whether their children attended denominational or multi-denominational schools in the survey, if her Department manually removed the responses of parents with children in multi-denominational schools (details supplied); if so, …

290. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 19 March 2026, if her Department will be implementing guidance on a national scale for opt-out arrangements in admission policies in relation to religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31549/26]

118. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether primary schools are permitted to receive and distribute unsolicited educational materials produced or funded by private industry actors; and if so, the guidance her Department provides to schools regarding the acceptance, use and presentation of such materials in the classroom; and if she will make a statement on the …

119. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessments, if any, undertaken by her Department of the factual accuracy, balance and educational suitability of materials distributed to primary schools by private or commercial entities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31139/26]

120. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department maintains a register, approval process or formal review mechanism for external organisations distributing educational resources directly to schools; and if not, whether she will consider introducing such a mechanism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31140/26]

121. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department was notified in advance of the distribution to primary schools of a publication (details supplied); whether her Department carried out, or requested, any assessment of its content prior to distribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31141/26]

122. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will commit to developing clear national guidelines for schools on the acceptance and use of externally produced educational resources, particularly where such resources relate to contested environmental or public policy issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31142/26]

517. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address all of the serious concerns expressed by a person (details supplied) regarding the introduction of inclusion classes, with particular focus on the recommendations to pause implementation, explain the rationale for the changes and to outline the criteria for placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

523. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has engaged with the Department of Health or other education stakeholders in relation to the need to have a more co-ordinated approach to medical emergencies in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29677/26]

524. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she would support the introduction for schools of accessible online training to deal with medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis, so as to ensure that all school staff can access appropriate guidance and to support a safer environment for children, teachers and school communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

544. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth Education when a teacher returning to the State can expect a final determination on incremental credit for overseas teaching experience; whether this determination can be made in advance of a contract of employment being signed; and if she will outline any plans to ensure salary certainty for returning teachers prior to taking u…

545. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which teaching experience delivering the International Baccalaureate curriculum is recognised for incremental credit purposes; and the way this position is reconciled with the recognition of the International Baccalaureate for entry into third-level education in the State. [30040/26]

546. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications received in each of the past five years for the recognition of overseas teaching experience for incremental credit purposes; the number approved, refused or partially approved; and if she will outline any plans to improve data collection in this area. [30041/26]

547. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether fluency in the host country's language is a factor in assessing overseas teaching experience for incremental credit; and if so, the way this requirement is applied in the case of Irish teachers working in international or private schools abroad. [30042/26]

548. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a review of the policy governing the recognition of overseas teaching experience is underway; and if she will consider reforms to ensure that experienced teachers returning to the State are treated in a fair and transparent manner. [30043/26]

576. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has considered reducing the Professional Master of Education from two years to one year in light of current teacher shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30344/26]