Parliamentary questions

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Joan Burton

211. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with his European ministerial counterparts regarding Brexit and the impact of this on the economies of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the wider EU economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27322/16]

State Aid Investigations

Joan Burton

212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with his European ministerial counterparts regarding the European Commission's adverse ruling against Ireland in respect of the taxation of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27323/16]

State Aid Investigations

Joan Burton

213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with Commissioner Vestager regarding the European Commission's adverse ruling against Ireland regarding the taxation of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27324/16]

VAT Rate Application

Brendan Smith

214. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide favourable consideration to the request of the Irish Hotels Federation to retain the 9% VAT rate; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this issue is of particular concern to the hospitality sector in the Border region as a result of the challenges in retaining business from north of the Border due to the weakness in sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27453/16]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Brendan Smith

215. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the work undertaken to date by the task force established within his Department to undertake the review of the insurance sector; if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns about the increasing costs of premia for motor insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27455/16]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

216. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the cost of abolishing all tax breaks specific to REITs including CGT and rental income, including the projected yield in CGT over the next five years. [27500/16]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

217. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of increasing CGT from 33% to 40%. [27501/16]

Property Tax Administration

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the rate of interest applied to persons who defer their local property tax; and the cost to the Exchequer in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, for every percentage point reduction in this rate. [27525/16]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Ruth Coppinger

219. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance the cost of introducing a minimum wage of €12, €13, €14 or €15 an hour for all employees under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27779/16]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Ruth Coppinger

220. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Finance the cost of introducing a minimum weekly gross wage of €480, €500, €520, €560 or €600 for all full-time employees under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27788/16]

School Transport Administration

John McGuinness

221. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be give to the case made directly to him, through correspondence dated 13 September 2016, relative to the school transport system and the way it affects a school (details supplied); if he will intervene in this issue and support small rural-based schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26574/16]

School Transport Provision

John McGuinness

222. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will set up a working group to examine the school bus transport system and the way it operates in rural Ireland in view of the fact that the current system is chaotic and the criteria to qualify for the service poses a threat to small rural schools; if he will request the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to carry out a value for money audit on the service; if he will intervene immediately to ensure that all those attending schools who rely on the school bus service and have not been allocated a place or have lost their place on the bus are accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26575/16]

Third Level Education

Gerry Adams

223. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if asylum seekers who arrived here as children and have completed their second-level education and leaving certificate will be permitted to attend third-level educational institutions; and to set out the financial supports they may be eligible to apply for. [27000/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

224. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Irish Sign Language interpreters and Irish Sign Language tutors and teachers who currently operate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27036/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

225. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the National Council for Special Education will be undertaking a review of the model for allocating special needs assistants as recommended by the focused policy assessment by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service; and the terms of reference of this review. [26437/16]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Brendan Griffin

226. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistants can be Garda vetted by the Teaching Council to allow them work in a number of schools without having to get individual approval for each school in the same year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26446/16]

School Transport

Kevin O'Keeffe

227. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider sanctioning a specific professional to assist a person (details supplied). [26447/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Billy Kelleher

228. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) regarding school transport. [26468/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

229. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will extend the SUSI grant scheme to students (details supplied) in view of the fact that the college they attend can be designated as an outreach college of UCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26469/16]

Special Educational Needs Staff

John McGuinness

230. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) being appointed to counties Carlow and Kilkenny out of the 7% increase announced by him; if he will arrange a different process of informing SNAs that they have lost their post other than by public information on a website; if individual SNAs will be informed in a more personal way; if job security for SNAs will be introduced; if his Department will engage with the SNA sector to deal with this and other issues; if all school principals are compelled to work with the job description of an SNA as set down in contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26479/16]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Michael McGrath

231. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in identifying and securing a permanent site for a primary school (details supplied); when he expects to commence construction of the new school. [26486/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Tony McLoughlin

232. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a new school building to the students and staff at a school (details supplied) due to the conditions of its current building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26491/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Robert Troy

233. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will make funding available to carry out works on a new building for a school (details supplied); and if he will prioritise this work due to the fact that this school is operating over its maximum capacity. [26500/16]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

234. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his decision not to grant emergency works funding to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26501/16]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

235. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an emergency works application for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26511/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Paul Kehoe

236. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a remote area grant in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26525/16]

School Transport Review

Brendan Griffin

237. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the review of the concessionary charges and rule elements of the school transport scheme have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26527/16]

School Transport Review

Brendan Griffin

238. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the review of the concessionary charges and rule elements of the school transport scheme will take into account the annual difficulties with school transport at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26528/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Darragh O'Brien

239. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will arrange for the urgent approval of stage 2b for a school (details supplied) in order that the new school building project can proceed to tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26534/16]

School Transport

Robert Troy

240. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an escort for a person (details supplied) attending mainstream primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26557/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Michael McGrath

241. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of resource hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in school in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26591/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Michael Healy-Rae

242. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a bus service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26600/16]

Educational Disadvantage

Pearse Doherty

243. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it is anticipated that the review of the DEIS programme will be formally completed; if further details are available regarding the process by which additional schools may be considered for inclusion to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26603/16]

Third Level Fees

Joan Burton

244. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to and if he recognises the significant barrier the €600 fee being charged for a PLC course (details supplied) and that these third level students are unable to apply for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26619/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mattie McGrath

245. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) does not have a special needs assistant as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26655/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Michael Healy-Rae

246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) attending a special needs school and resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26658/16]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools operating book rental schemes by county, in tabular form; and the efforts made by his Department to encourage the uptake of such schemes. [26660/16]

Education Centre Network

Róisín Shortall

248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of funding allocations from his Department to an institution (details supplied) in Dublin 9 over each of the past three years; if he will provide details of proposed changes to this years budget as recently indicated by the TES section of his Department; the rationale for these changes; and the implications for existing staff levels and the likely impact on the schools which this centre serves. [26686/16]

Summer Works Scheme

Brendan Griffin

249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the avenues open to a school community (details supplied) in County Kerry where the school is awaiting funding for urgently required drop-off and collection works to prevent possible serious injury or death occurring; if his Department will treat the school's application as an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26689/16]

State Examinations Appeals

Michael Fitzmaurice

250. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of exam papers which have been sent by a person (details supplied) to be rechecked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26705/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brendan Ryan

251. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in building phase 2 of a college (details supplied); when building works are due to commence; and his views on whether phase 1 is not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26744/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Michael Ring

252. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) was entitled to pay over the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26749/16]

School Transport Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

253. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of eligible and the number of concessionary customers transported each year for specified sub-divisions for each of the years 2010 to 2015 in a number of categories (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26760/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Alan Farrell

254. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which the geographical and school specific decisions are made in relation to the allocation of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26770/16]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Brendan Griffin

255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26776/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Alan Farrell

256. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the denial of the qualification allowance to teachers who had taken a break from their college registration and became re-registered in the period prior to the introduction of Circular 0008/2013; the legal basis upon which his Department does this, given that Circular 0008/2013 is the first to specify these registration conditions and taking into account the Circulars 70/2011 and 0003/2012 do not specify such conditions but merely state that teachers who were undertaking courses will be considered in the context of the public service-wide review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; his views on whether the implementation of these requirements upon teachers who were taking courses, and had been both de-registered and re-registered during their course, prior to Circular 0008/2013 is retrospective application and therefore should not be allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26780/16]

Schools Building Projects

Clare Daly

257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if commencement of phase 2 of the construction of a school (details supplied) can be brought forward to ensure that students will not be sitting for exams in an overcrowded school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26781/16]

Transition Year Selection Process

Brendan Ryan

258. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools which provide transition year as an option as opposed to the overall number of schools here, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26786/16]

Transition Year Selection Process

Brendan Ryan

259. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools which provide transition year as a compulsory option for all of its students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26787/16]

Higher Education Institutions

Micheál Martin

260. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has been briefed regarding concerns within the higher education system in respect of Ireland's falling ranking in the area of high performance computing; the investments by his Department in this area over the past ten years; his plans to address concerns that Ireland's research infrastructure is being undermined by underperformance in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26801/16]

National Educational Psychological Service

Michael McGrath

261. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an educational psychological assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26815/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Robert Troy

262. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the body responsible for reviewing autism spectrum disorder, ASD, preschool children for future placement prior to leaving an ASD pre-school class (details supplied). [26816/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Darragh O'Brien

263. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the stage 2b drawings for a school (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26823/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Darragh O'Brien

264. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if work has recommenced on the stage 2b drawings for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26824/16]

Summer Works Scheme

Dara Calleary

265. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the policy of cancelling summer works application for schools where an emergency works application was granted for a totally different project was introduced; the number of schools which have been affected by this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Robert Troy

266. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total travel expenses and reimbursement costs incurred by his Department per annum from 2011 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26858/16]

Data Protection

Frank O'Rourke

267. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has a specific data protection officer in place; if that position is exclusive or if the position holder has other duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26875/16]

Third Level Charges

Ruth Coppinger

268. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the State of abolishing the student contribution charge for third level education. [26904/16]

Third Level Fees

Ruth Coppinger

269. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the State of abolishing fees for postgraduate courses. [26905/16]

Capitation Grants

Ruth Coppinger

270. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reversing all the cuts to school capitation grants since 2008. [26906/16]

Student Grants Data

Ruth Coppinger

271. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the State of reversing all cuts to student grants over the past eight years. [26907/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Michael Healy-Rae

272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding school class sizes and funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26966/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Michael Healy-Rae

273. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding school class sizes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26967/16]

Capitation Grants

Michael Healy-Rae

274. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26968/16]

School Transport Eligibility

John McGuinness

275. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided for persons (details supplied). [26977/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

276. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which Irish Sign Language tutors and teachers are currently accredited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27077/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

277. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new course in Irish Sign Language prepared by the post-primary languages initiative; the number of schools that have placed this course on their curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27078/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

278. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests that have been made in each county for an Irish Sign Language interpreter for both primary and secondary schools in 2016; the number of these requests which were met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27079/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

279. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours of Irish Sign Language interpretation currently awarded to students in each county and the way this is determined. [27080/16]

Disability Services Provision

Gerry Adams

280. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of implementation of the new inclusion support service; the progress that has specifically been made in supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27081/16]

Disability Services Provision

Gerry Adams

281. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have a diagnosis of deaf or hearing impaired who have completed leaving certificate examinations from 2010 to 2016 in tabular form. [27082/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

282. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports that exist within mainstream primary and post-primary settings for students who have a diagnosis of deaf or hearing-impaired; if he is satisfied that current supports are sufficient to meet the needs of these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27083/16]

State Examinations Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

283. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a recheck for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27089/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Michael McGrath

284. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for a child on the autism spectrum disorder spectrum attending primary school to apply for a laptop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27099/16]

School Accommodation

Bobby Aylward

285. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for temporary accommodation in respect of a school (details supplied). [27197/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Michael Healy-Rae

286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding principal awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27203/16]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Carol Nolan

287. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide clear guidelines and documentation requirements to SUSI for those currently in direct provision applying for third-level grants in order to prove their residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27244/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Michael Healy-Rae

288. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding teacher-pupil ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27265/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

289. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have applied for school transport in 2016 and were deemed ineligible as they were not attending their nearest school; the number of pupils who applied for school transport on a concessionary basis and were refused; the number of these who were in receipt of school transport in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

290. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27289/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

291. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are any arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

292. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the situation whereby students (details supplied) are refused school transport when the route to the nearest school is considered unsafe for travel in poor weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27291/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

293. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason children on the school bus (details supplied) have been refused school transport and the number of children involved; the date upon which the families received notification that the children would no longer receive school transport; the arrangements which can be made to ensure the children involved receive transport to school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27292/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

294. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; the arrangements which could be made to provide the child with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

295. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if accommodation can be made to allow for a person (details supplied) to be collected from their home for the purposes of school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27294/16]

School Transport Applications

Carol Nolan

296. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if pupils from Northern Ireland who have free medical cover can be deemed as eligible children for school transport on the same basis as medical card holders in cases where the child concerned is attending the nearest school; if he will issue clarification on the eligibility of children in Northern Ireland for free school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27295/16]

School Transport Applications

Carol Nolan

297. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the school transport application of a person (details supplied) who lives in Northern Ireland and is attending his nearest Gaelscoil and had full medical cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27296/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

298. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the school transport routes B9004 from Aughrim to Arklow and route No. 70810H from Rathdrum to Avondale with a view to increasing the capacity of the service in order to accommodate students who wish to avail of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27297/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

299. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a policy in place within the school transport system which prohibits the bus provider from providing a bigger bus even where there is demand for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27298/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

300. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a case whereby a school transport bus provider has been refused permission to increase the bus size on a transport route where students who previously used that route have been denied school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

301. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the school transport situation in County Sligo whereby a number of students travelling to schools (details supplied) have been refused school transport; his plans to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27300/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

302. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons a school transport bus service (details supplied) has been downsized from a 33-seater to a 24-seater; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27301/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

303. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who were refused school transport as a result of late submission of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

304. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the school transport situation in east Cork where a number of children have been refused school transport; his plans to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27303/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

305. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the school transport situation (details supplied); if steps will be taken to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

306. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of restoring the pre-2011 criteria of eligibility for school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27305/16]

Springboard Programme

Joan Burton

307. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person who has not attained a level 8 degree heretofore would be eligible for the free fees initiative for a level 8 degree programme if they go to university after the completion of a Springboard programme, up to and including Level 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27326/16]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

308. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school building redevelopments that were previously due to commence in 2016 as part of the capital programme and have now been postponed will necessitate school boards of management having to re-engage their design teams to update previously agreed tender documents to bring them into line with changes to public works contracts that were introduced in 2016, as such a requirement will cause an additional delay in progression of school rebuilding projects to tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27327/16]

School Transport

Bernard Durkan

309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which it is proposed to restore the school transport services previously available to the children in the Johnstownbridge and Kilshanroe areas of north Kildare in view of the extreme hardship caused to children and their parents and keeping in mind that no action was to be taken until after a review of the school transport system; his views on the need to take immediate steps to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27330/16]

School Staff

Róisín Shortall

310. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of English as an additional language, EAL, posts in each county for each school year since 2012-13, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27471/16]