Parliamentary questions

Teacher Training

Réada Cronin

118. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether, given the shortage of primary teachers, and to assist those anxious to work in the area, she will liaise with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on reducing the length of the current PME postgraduate teacher training courses to perhaps one year; to remove from those who are already fluent in Irish, some holding a master's degree in same, the compulsion to attend the Gaeltacht, thereby removing yet another financial barrier to eager candidates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42996/23]

Teacher Training

Réada Cronin

119. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education whether, for those graduates anxious to enter primary teacher training, she will reduce the term of the current PME postgraduate teacher training courses to perhaps one year; to remove from those who are already fluent in Irish, some holding a master's degree in same, the compulsion to attend the Gaeltacht, both initiatives removing financial barriers to eager candidates, and so, easing the shortage of primary teachers. [42997/23]

School Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the total parental contribution made for school transport for primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43021/23]

School Accommodation

Emer Higgins

121. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the exceptionally poor conditions of the prefabs being used to teach children at a school (details supplied); if she will urgently intervene to provide adequate accommodation for this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43037/23]

Teacher Training

Brendan Smith

122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, to reduce the current duration of the postgraduate ITE programmes to one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43111/23]

School Transport

Niamh Smyth

288. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the reason that a child (details supplied) cannot get the transport to school that they so badly need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42752/23]

School Transport

Thomas Gould

289. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a rural bus scheme for children in Glenville attending school in Fermoy. [42112/23]

Schools Building Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

290. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when the application for a new build for a school (details supplied) will be approved; the reason for the delay in making a decision on this application; when a modular building, which was to be in place for this autumn’s reopening of the school, will be in place for a new special class at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42129/23]

School Staff

Paul Kehoe

291. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education to address teacher shortages in secondary schools by allowing teachers who are working 22 hours in a school and who could work in another school on their half day, to do so, and therefore extend the ability to work up to 35 extra hours in the year, not just in one’s own school, but in others too; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42152/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

292. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason that a qualified Irish teacher, who worked in a school in Abu Dhabi, and is now looking to return to the Irish labour force, is not entitled to increments; and what plans she has to ensure teacher retention in Ireland and ensure that teachers who are in similar circumstances are welcomed back with equality of opportunity and treatment. [42179/23]

School Staff

Martin Browne

293. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the reason young teachers are being told it could take up to 20 weeks to have increments acknowledged, which creates a situation where teachers face losing a significant amount of income due to the Department’s inefficiency. [42192/23]

Departmental Data

Catherine Murphy

294. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that had solar panels installed as part of the summer works programme in 2022 and to date in 2023, by county, in tabular form. [42194/23]

School Funding

Catherine Murphy

295. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that were granted funds from the summer works programme in 2022 and to date in 2023, by county, in tabular form. [42195/23]

School Staff

Noel Grealish

296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the reason that days worked by an SNA are not cumulative for payscale purposes; the reason that they are based on contracts, given that a person on a short-hour contract can go to higher point on a payscale than a person who could have many more days of experience in a classroom; if she will consider changing this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42196/23]

School Transport

Niamh Smyth

297. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a case urgently (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42217/23]

School Admissions

Cormac Devlin

298. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education what steps are being taken to increase the number of early start places in the county area of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Childcare Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42262/23]

School Textbooks

Paul Kehoe

299. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education whether she is considering providing free schoolbooks for secondary school students, for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42279/23]

School Facilities

Paul Murphy

300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the Children's Books Ireland's Right to Be a Reader Campaign, urging the government to provide sustained funding for school libraries in Budget 2024; given that only 15% of the Irish population of any age are signed up as public library members, will the Minister support properly funded school primary and secondary school libraries, staffed by a qualified librarian; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42282/23]

School Transport

Colm Burke

301. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will be provided with SEN school transport, in view that it is now over 4 weeks since the school term commenced, and the child still has no transportation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42306/23]

School Staff

Neasa Hourigan

302. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to re-introduce additional payments for teachers who gain extra qualifications, such as a special education qualification or a doctorate degree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/23]

Departmental Policies

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

303. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will make a representation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to have teaching added to the critical skills list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42325/23]

Budget 2024

Danny Healy-Rae

304. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if additional funding will be provided in Budget 2024 for the primary education system to ensure mental health supports and reduce class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42326/23]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

305. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42336/23]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

306. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42337/23]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

307. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42338/23]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

308. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42339/23]

School Transport

Claire Kerrane

309. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education how many school bus services in Galway county are currently not running due to lack of drivers or lack of buses; how many children are affected as a result of these challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42340/23]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

310. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the shortage of SNA hours in a school (details supplied); if she will ensure that the extra hours the school has applied for are granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42357/23]

Data Protection

Peadar Tóibín

311. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of data breaches experienced by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [42362/23]

Education Policy

Francis Noel Duffy

312. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) is not recognised by the State; if, since 2007, the school has applied to be recognised; if so, the outcome of this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42397/23]

Departmental Reviews

Ivana Bacik

313. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if any reviews or studies have been conducted by her Department into the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the construction of public buildings and buildings providing educational services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42434/23]

Departmental Projects

Bríd Smith

314. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of how the €500,000 funding that was made available in 2009 for a memorial to honour all survivors of all State-run industrial schools is to be used; if she will outline details of the proposed memorial; to provide a timescale for when it will be in place; if she will acknowledge that survivors are eager to see the plans for a memorial brought to fruition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42459/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

315. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason that students in a school in Dublin (details supplied) who require full access to an SNA have been denied this access, with only one SNA shared between two junior infant classes; and the plans she has to ensure that children with SEN receive a full education, like their peers, and do not miss out on school due to lack of SNAs/ SNA hours. [42467/23]

School Admissions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

316. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department can take to review the catchment area of a school (details supplied), to allow children who live a 90 second walk away from the school attend it, in the interest of sustainability. [42469/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Niamh Smyth

317. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide clarity on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42477/23]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Gould

318. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education whether she is aware of issues with a new secondary school building in Blarney that is causing traffic chaos; what actions have been taken to mitigate this pending the completion of the staff car park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42480/23]

School Funding

Mattie McGrath

319. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on plans to roll out of the ICT grant to schools (primary and secondary) for the current school year under the digital strategy for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42515/23]

School Accommodation

Robert Troy

320. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite an application for a school extension (details supplied). [42522/23]

School Funding

Peter Burke

321. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider that an additional minor works grant be paid to primary schools again this year, in light of the extra costs of running schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42524/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed and the estimated cost for these works. [42540/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

323. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to the tender stage of works. [42542/23]

Budget 2024

Robert Troy

324. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to raise four concerns from an organisation (details supplied) as part of submissions on Budget 2024. [42648/23]

School Funding

Neasa Hourigan

325. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the schemes and funding streams available to assist schools green their external spaces, with, for example, trees and landscaped green areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42650/23]

Special Educational Needs

Cian O'Callaghan

326. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 11 September 2023, the measures that her Department is taking to address further delays experienced by an autism unit in a school (details supplied); if her Department will take action to ensure that necessary work commences as soon as possible; the reason that further delays have taken place, meaning the new opening date will be sometime in November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42668/23]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

327. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the next IT grant will be issued to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42674/23]

School Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

328. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that special education bus services for many students with additional needs have been stopped; the reason for this; if she will engage with the Department of Transport to have this vital service reinstated for service users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42677/23]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

329. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42749/23]

School Transport

Verona Murphy

330. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Questions No. 629 of 11 September 2023 and 287 of 26 September 2023, the total number of school transport applications classed as concessionary applications in County Wexford for the 2023/2024 academic year whereby applications are classed as eligible or concessionary at the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42764/23]

School Transport

Verona Murphy

331. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education the total number of school transport applications received through the school transport system for County Wexford for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42765/23]

School Transport

Verona Murphy

332. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education the total number of concessionary school transport applications declined in County Wexford as of 1 September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42766/23]