Parliamentary questions

School Enrolments

Jim O'Callaghan

206. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the number of Ukrainian pupils enrolled in Irish schools at primary level and post-primary level, by county, as of 9th of February or latest date available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7338/24]

School Facilities

Mark Ward

207. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) has not received agreed funding for security measures after a serious incident at the school in October 2022; the reason for the delay in the school accessing this funding; when it will receive funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7339/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

208. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if plans are in place to provide an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, room for a school (details supplied) that requires such an addition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7340/24]

School Accommodation

Mark Ward

209. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education what accommodation will be provided for a school (details supplied) to increase the number of new pupils it can enrol in September 2024, to meet the needs of the community; when the accommodation will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7344/24]

School Staff

Pádraig O'Sullivan

210. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will address the teacher shortage at post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7353/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the number of children in residential care who are without a school place, in tabular form; and the reason these children are without a school place. [7071/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a breakdown of children excluded from school, and the reason, for both residential and other types of care. [7072/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education how many section 29 appeals have been taken on behalf of children refused admission in 2023; the results of these appeals; and what educational provision has been made for the children where the appeals have not been upheld. [7074/24]

Education Welfare Service

Patrick Costello

129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if an EWO been assigned to children currently in State care but excluded from school. [7075/24]

Education Welfare Service

Patrick Costello

130. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education where an EWO has been assigned specifically to residential care, if they work on a case by case basis or if there is a larger strategic plan being implemented for this role; and what are the goals in this special assignment. [7076/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

131. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education in relation to the recently released numbers by TESS relating to prolonged school attendance issues, how many of these children are under Tusla care. [7078/24]

School Admissions

Réada Cronin

132. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will introduce a mechanism, or extend any mechanism extant, as in the case of special needs, to compel schools to accept children who have not been offered a place in secondary school in north Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6690/24]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when she intends to bring the school transport review to Cabinet. [6708/24]

School Accommodation

David Stanton

134. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6716/24]

School Transport

John McGuinness

135. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the actions she has taken to ensure that individuals over 70 years of age certified as medically fit to drive are considered for bus driver positions under the school bus scheme; if the contract for the school bus service will be amended to include this condition; if she will further amend the contract to include the use of buses that are over 20 years old that have all of the required certification; if she will insist that the sub contractors to Bus Éireann delivering this service are treated fairly and paid an economic rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6720/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

136. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a school (details supplied), and consider a request from the board of management and parents for support from her Department to establish an autism-specific special class in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6726/24]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the date for applications for the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6745/24]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

138. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education what works are accepted under the emergency works scheme in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6746/24]

Special Educational Needs

Niamh Smyth

139. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6748/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Carol Nolan

140. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to ensure that organisations, including State bodies under the aegis of her Department as well as non-governmental organisations and charities that are in receipt of funding from her Department, do not use any portion of such funding to campaign or promote a position in favour or against any outcome of the forthcoming referenda on Articles 41.1.1, 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution, thereby breaching the McKenna principles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6757/24]

School Enrolments

James Lawless

141. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education to report on the current oversubscription crisis in schools in County Kildare, and specifically Prosperous and Clane; what her Department is planning to ensure that all children will be educated in a school environment in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6775/24]

Schools Building Projects

James Lawless

142. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education for an update on the current status of the proposed new post primary school (details supplied); the current status of an extension to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6776/24]

School Enrolments

James Lawless

143. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education what plans/structures are in place to assist secondary school children that are currently being home schooled in securing a school place as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6778/24]

School Transport

John McGuinness

144. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided immediately for a person (details supplied). [6779/24]

Departmental Properties

David Stanton

145. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the amount of unused land in the ownership of her Department at a location (details supplied); if she will consider using the lands as a playing facility for the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6782/24]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the rationale for the removal of complex needs as a factor for the allocation of special education teaching hours; if she is aware that many children with complex needs do not sit standardised tests, and so are not represented in the results of standardised literacy and numeracy test scores in a school; if she will consider reinstating complex needs as a factor for allocating SET hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6826/24]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the reason there are no grounds for appeal for schools with students with additional needs under the new model for allocating special education teaching hours; what avenues schools with pupils who are not receiving the educational supports they are entitled to can take in order to address these issues; and if she will consider reinstating a comprehensive appeals process for SET hours. [6827/24]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of schools which have been allocated SET hours; and the number of schools which appealed their allocation; by county, from 2020 to date, in tabular form. [6828/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

149. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0011/2024, the Circular to the Management Authorities of Primary Schools, as schools (details supplied) are currently set to experience a reduction in their SET allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6831/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

150. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to ensure that (details supplied) will not experience a reduction in their SET allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6832/24]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

151. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if there is a role for her Department in providing devices (details supplied) pursuant to Circular 0010/2013. [6835/24]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

152. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education whether, if a child is in receipt of assistive technology, this technology typically stays with the school; the procedure required for reapplication for such devices where the device does not follow the individual to the next setting, i.e., secondary school or new school; if parents have to provide a new professional report; if individuals automatically qualify and, if so, what this will look like in practice; and if a device does not follow a student, how long on average a student is waiting. [6836/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pearse Doherty

153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be granted an ASD unit on its premises; if she is aware of the importance of this matter given that the closest school with an ASD room will no longer have spaces in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6841/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

154. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Swords provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6854/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

155. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Portmarnock provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6855/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

156. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Malahide provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6856/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

157. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Donabate/Portrane provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6857/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

158. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Kinsealy provide ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6858/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

159. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6859/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

160. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Portmarnock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6860/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

161. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Malahide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6861/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

162. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Donabate/Portrane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6862/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

163. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how long waiting lists are for ASD units in Kinsealy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6863/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

164. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6864/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

165. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Portmarnock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6865/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Malahide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6866/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

167. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Donabate/Portrane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6867/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

168. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how many active applications there are for ASD units in Kinsealy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6868/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

169. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education what plans she has to improve the provision of ASD units in schools in Dublin Fingal east, and countrywide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6869/24]

School Staff

Marian Harkin

170. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application for incremental credits submitted in June and July 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6990/24]

School Accommodation

Robert Troy

171. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a number of schools projects (details supplied). [7006/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department has agreed to a duty of cooperation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla in the provision of education for children in care, as drafted by the new additions to the Child Care Act 1991. [7077/24]

School Staff

Mairéad Farrell

173. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she plans to increase the grant paid to schools to provide for transport assistants who work on buses assisting those with profound mental/physical disabilities, as these workers have not had an increase since 2020, which was only 26 cents per hour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7089/24]

Special Educational Needs

Matt Carthy

174. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the status of any proposal to establish a special school in County Monaghan. [7112/24]

Special Educational Needs

Matt Carthy

175. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the primary and post-primary schools in County Monaghan that she intends to deliver new special classes and/ or ASD units in 2024 and 2025. [7113/24]

School Transport

Danny Healy-Rae

176. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will consider allowing drivers who reach 70 years the opportunity to continue driving subject to passing an annual medical even convened by a doctor chosen by her Department. [7125/24]

School Transport

Danny Healy-Rae

177. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will give consideration to allow persons over 70 years to continue driving in view of the continuous shortage of school bus drivers. [7126/24]

School Facilities

Aindrias Moynihan

70. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education what measures are being taken to support positive mental health in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6401/24]

School Enrolments

Paul Murphy

71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will increase funding and resources for secondary schools to ensure that no child is left without a secondary school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6382/24]

School Transport

Thomas Gould

73. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education for an update on the provision of school transport to a school (details supplied) and students in Glenville attending schools in Fermoy. [6392/24]

School Patronage

Paul Murphy

75. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education to report on progress towards divestment of Catholic schools and establishment of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6383/24]

Online Safety

Aindrias Moynihan

76. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education what measures she is taking to ensure that on-line safety is taught in primary schools to support anti-bullying programmes/plans already in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6400/24]

Special Educational Needs

Niamh Smyth

77. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the supports provided for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties in the classroom in primary and secondary level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6386/24]

School Staff

Niamh Smyth

81. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the recent circular on domestic violence leave for teachers and special needs assistants; how this leave will operate in reality in school communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6404/24]

Education Policy

Gary Gannon

83. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the addition of young carers as a target group for educational supports, such as Tusla’s school completion programme, given the ESRI’s findings that young people who care for a relative are less likely to move on to higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6342/24]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

84. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the contract tendering for a new school building in Greystones (details supplied); if this is being prioritised by her Department to reflect the shortage of secondary school places in the wider area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6256/24]

Legislative Programme

Rose Conway-Walsh

85. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the legislative programme. [3493/24]

Special Educational Needs

Violet-Anne Wynne

86. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if she will comment on the provision of ASD units in primary and post-primary schools in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6361/24]

School Transport

Catherine Connolly

87. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 25 November 2023, the timeline for the publication of the final report of the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6394/24]

Physical Education

Willie O'Dea

88. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the minimum requirement of class periods that should be made available for the teaching of senior cycle physical education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6169/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

89. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of requests to the financial support services unit by primary schools in 2023 for additional funding; and the value of the funding. provided. [6206/24]

School Enrolments

Alan Farrell

90. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to report on her Department’s efforts to address the demand for secondary school places in north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6371/24]

Schools Building Projects

Marian Harkin

91. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education on the provision of a new school building for a school in County Leitrim (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2699/24]

School Enrolments

Bernard Durkan

92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she remains confident that she and her Department will be in a position to meet the full requirement of school places at primary and second level throughout Kildare and the rest of the country on time for September 2024 enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6349/24]

School Accommodation

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

93. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of the application by a school (details supplied) to provide additional special classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6167/24]

School Funding

Claire Kerrane

94. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education the funding that is in place to assist schools, particularly in rural areas where they are trying to improve traffic safety on school grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6402/24]

National Educational Psychological Service

Gary Gannon

95. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education to outline the work conducted by the National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) in schools in Dublin 1 since November 2023; the number of therapy sessions provided by NEPS by each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6345/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

96. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the delay in the construction of the new school building at a school (details supplied); if any plans are in place to address this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6399/24]

School Accommodation

Pearse Doherty

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the urgency in finding a resolution to the issue of children and parents crossing the road to attend a school (details supplied) in Donegal, given that another near fatal incident occurred recently; if she plans to deal with the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6039/24]

School Facilities

Richard Bruton

98. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her Department has carried out an assessment of the potential of remote delivery in education; and if new initiatives are planned in this arena. [50444/23]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

99. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the establishment of a special school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6380/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

100. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the recruitment of teachers and SNAs, as outlined in Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6372/24]

State Examinations

Willie O'Dea

101. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the number of students that sat the Leaving Certificate physical education exam in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6168/24]

School Facilities

Gary Gannon

102. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education is she and her Department will commit to an enhanced safety audit of schools in vulnerable and high traffic areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6346/24]

State Examinations

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

103. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that leaving certificate results will be available in time to allow first year third level students start college at the same time as others and if she can provide a date now. [6263/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ruairí Ó Murchú

104. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the availability, location and number of places in ASD units in secondary schools in County Louth for the 2024-2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6339/24]

School Funding

Joan Collins

105. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education the process used for advertising for the STEM grant in December 2023; and the process for the selection of schools for the STEM grant. [5868/24]

School Transport

Robert Troy

106. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6164/24]

School Staff

Alan Dillon

107. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to introduce a payroll system in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6396/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Dillon

108. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to increase the allocation of SNAs in primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6395/24]

School Funding

Paul Murphy

109. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will increase funding to schools in order that no additional income from parents in the form of voluntary contributions is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6384/24]

School Accommodation

Paul McAuliffe

110. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education for a review of the decision not to provide funding for play equipment and a canopy which had previously been approved at a school (details supplied). [6305/24]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

111. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason Departmental information is regularly communicated to school staff after 5pm, given their right to disconnect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6344/24]

School Transport

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

112. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will pilot a school transport for all policy for 12 months in the south east ward of Cork city that would provide pupils with access to a bus service or bicycles in an effort to encourage the over 5,900 children currently travelling by car to change mode of transport and if she will report on the success of the pilot. [6264/24]

School Accommodation

Robert Troy

113. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progression of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6165/24]

State Examinations

Peadar Tóibín

114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of students who completed the Junior and Leaving Certificates, respectively, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [6408/24]

School Enrolments

Catherine Connolly

115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps that her Department is taking to ensure that all children starting secondary school in Galway city and county will have a school place in their local area for the academic year 2024-2025; the details of any engagement she has had with parent representative groups in this regard in the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6393/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Joan Collins

116. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if all DEIS schools that applied for the recent STEM grant received the grant; the number of DEIS schools that applied for the STEM grant; and the number that were successful. [5887/24]

School Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

117. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the reintroduction of the qualifications allowance for teachers at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6341/24]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

118. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education for an update on the number of available ASD places in Cork schools in September 2024. [6391/24]