Education Policy

208. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress her Department has made to increase the number of reading classes nationwide; the criteria being used to identify areas of greatest need; the timeline for the establishment of additional classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11078/26]

210. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will add additional schools in Carlow/Kilkenny to the National Development Plan priority list in 2026-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11043/26]

216. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the overcrowding in schools in County Louth. [10848/26]

217. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide funding for pilot schemes in primary and secondary schools which focus on the development of real-world critical thinking skills and problem solving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/26]

320. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the schedule of special education classes to come; the number of classes; and the way in which the data collected by the NCSE been reflected in future announcements. [11583/26]

321. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11584/26]

322. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify if there is a legal requirement for teachers to use students' “preferred names and pronouns”. [5360/26]

323. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that some NGOs are making claims that schools and teachers must use a student's preferred names and pronouns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5362/26]

324. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify if a teacher has a legal right to freedom of thought, conscience, speech and religion, as enshrined under Article 44.2.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and Article 9 of European Convention on Human Rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5363/26]

325. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason full-time, fully qualified post-primary teaching service completed outside the EU/EEA continues to be excluded from salary scale recognition for Irish teachers returning home; whether this policy is currently under active review; the status of any working groups or consultations examining the recognition of o…

326. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will issue a directive/circular to all schools to ensure that the 1916 Proclamation is given pride of place in all schools, as it once was; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6759/26]

327. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine an increase in the budget for schools across all schemes that are currently operating (details supplied). [72006/25]

328. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which she is working to ensure that children with disabilities in Cork north-west and County Cork have equal access to education, including sufficient special class and special school places, appropriate transport, and in-school therapy supports; the number of children with additional needs in this region currently …

329. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken in advance of the new school year to ensure that difficulties experienced in the previous academic year regarding Bus Éireann school transport passes are not repeated; whether his Department is working with the Department of Education and Youth to accurately assess the number of students who will require schoo…

330. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the school building and development projects at a school (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken to date to progress these projects; whether she is aware of delays, structural issues, and capacity pressures at both schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11021/26]

331. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement she and her officials have had in 2025 with the Minister for Health and the HSE in relation to the recruitment of senior and staff grade occupational therapists and speech and language therapists for the National Educational Therapy Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71265/25]

332. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the development of a school (details supplied); if this includes a sports and recreation facility, noting the school provides education to approximately 1,000 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68397/25]

333. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there will be an update to the SPHE curriculum to further highlight the use and abuse of inhalants given the tragic death of a young student in Dublin 15. [10766/26]

334. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the analysis that is carried out in terms of the way in which SNAs are allocated to a primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11111/26]

335. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the analysis that is carried out in terms of the way in which SNAs are allocated to a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11112/26]

336. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of primary school principals in small scale schools in relation to the perception that they are comparatively worse off in relation to the allocation of SNAs in comparison to larger schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11113/26]

337. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to ensure that smaller primary schools, with fewer than 100 pupils are adequately supported in terms of their SNA allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11114/26]

338. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the appeal of a school (details supplied) in relation to their current allocation of SNASs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11115/26]

339. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the management team of a school (details supplied) in relation to their resource allocation in terms of dealing with pupils with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11116/26]

340. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the NCSE in relation to their resource allocation in terms of dealing with pupils with additional needs for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11117/26]