Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

67. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the actions she is taking to alleviate the teacher supply shortage across Irish education in light of a recent survey (details supplied). [52296/23]

School Enrolments

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

78. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department has in place to end the practice of non-fee-paying schools linking the payment of a fee with the acceptance of an enrolment place. [52250/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

113. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on preparation for a citizens' assembly on education, as provided for in the programme for Government. [52249/23]

School Attendance

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

336. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will review circular M02/95 to emphasise the duty of care a school has to accommodate their own pupils where there is a demonstrated justification for a child to repeat a year for educational, health, mental health or developmental reasons. [52901/23]

School Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

361. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the provision of additional school accommodation for a school (details supplied) is expected to be completed in time for the current school year or for the year commencing September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53117/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

282. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when the design team will be appointed for a new school building (details supplied), given that discussions about the site between the Department and the patron of the school in question have been ongoing since early 2020; as well as the expected date of completion of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52343/23]

Departmental Reviews

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

205. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review of the critical skills list will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50693/23]

Education Policy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

262. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the reason no provision is made to schools for the deaf for ISL interpretation outside of the standard capitation grant; her views on whether her Department is compliant with the spirit and with the provisions of the Irish Sign language Act 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51036/23]

Legislative Measures

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

267. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the Traveller History and Culture in Education Bill 2018; and when the Bill is expected to complete the next stage in the legislative process. [51135/23]

Work Permits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

169. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on when the Employment Permits Bill 2022 is likely to be progress to report stage in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49656/23]

School Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

197. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what funding allocations, if any, are made to schools for purchase of financing of educational technology. [49466/23]

School Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

198. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what funding, if any, is available to private companies from her Department for research and development of educational technologies and applications. [49467/23]

Teacher Training

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

40. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the current shortage of teachers, she will instigate a review of the evaluation of a UK postgraduate course by the Teaching Council in respect of the course's coverage of relevant modules which seem to match similar Irish courses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48913/23]

School Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

41. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will work with a school (details supplied) so that it can be included in a public procurement framework for period products from which they are currently excluded, or if there is an alternative scheme for voluntary non-fee-paying schools to access similar supports. [48951/23]

Departmental Schemes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

70. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a flood relief scheme for ordinary householders will be instigated by his Department similar to the enhanced emergency business flooding scheme; what scheme has been put in place for a location (details supplied); if he can ensure that the Dublin based flood damage victims will have the same access to financial support as rural flood victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49055/23]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

97. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine a case (details supplied) of an individual in need of special needs education but who now has no service; and if he will ensure that this individual can access suitable services. [48932/23]

Research Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

145. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he proposes to make up the shortfall in the PhD stipend, to ensure that PhD researchers funded by his Department either directly or through bodies such as the EPA, who have been excluded from the planned increase in stipends for PhD students, are treated in an equitable manner with other Government-funded PhD students by being given an increase in the stipend to €22,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47579/23]

Prison Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

793. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of days that educational programmes in prisons were prevented from proceeding, including partial or full closures, due to staff shortages or for any other reasons, from 1 October 2022 to date, by prison institution, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47366/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

850. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of stops and searches that have been carried out by gardaí in each of the past five years. [48388/23]

Cancer Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1144. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if the mobile BreastCheck unit is still operating from Leopardstown Hospital; whether there were changes in its operation; if the service will be restored to previous levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47580/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

299. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the fact that experienced second level teachers such as a teacher (details supplied) who qualified in the UK are being lost to Irish teaching by what are perceived as onerous requirements to duplicate existing qualifications; and her views on whether there is scope for adjusting requirements to make it easier for schools to hire UK-qualified teachers to help meet the shortage that is needed. [46617/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

415. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have had charges entered against them for simple possession of a controlled drug for their own personal use in each of the years 2017 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [46656/23]

Departmental Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

421. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many PhD researchers are funded by his Department, including those funded by agencies and bodies under the auspices of his Department, and who will not be receiving the increase in stipend to €22,000. [46158/23]

Departmental Funding

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

422. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proposes to make up the shortfall in the PhD stipend, to ensure that PhD researchers such as a researcher (details supplied) who have been excluded from the planned increase in stipends for PhD students, are treated in an equitable manner with other Government-funded PhD students by being given an increase in the stipend to €22,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46159/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

629. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of PhD researchers funded through Government departments or public bodies or agencies under the auspices of those departments but are outside the SFI/IRC funding schemes; and the number of such students funded by each department. [46166/23]

Third Level Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

631. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied that the exclusion of Government-funded non SFI/IRC PhD researchers from the increase in stipend funding to €22,000 complies with all relevant employment and equality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46214/23]

Third Level Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

632. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ask individual Government Department agencies and bodies who fund PhD research outside the SFI/IRC programme to finance increases in PhD stipends to provide equality with their SFI/IRC counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46215/23]

Third Level Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

94. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason why the optimum target of €25,000 for the PhD stipend as recommended by the first report of the National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers, was not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45541/23]

Third Level Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

95. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a timeline for the publication of the final review report on supports for PhD researchers in Ireland that deals with the status of a PhD researcher and classification as either a student or an employee. [45539/23]

Grant Payments

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

101. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the supports available to graduate entry medicine students, and to clarify if he will extend existing supports to graduate entry medicine students. [45540/23]

Third Level Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

111. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will make a commitment that other PhDs directly reliant on government funding outside of IRC or SFI will receive an increase in their PhD stipend. [45542/23]

Library Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

143. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project and JCSP Digital Library Service will be expanded; and if she will consider including a school (details supplied). [45389/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

2. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will deliver on a DEIS plus proposal for schools in areas of the highest disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45280/23]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

9. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she can explain the circumstances whereby a school (details supplied) was refused a grant by her Department to equip a sensory room because it did not have a door but when it contacted the section responsible for the provision of the new room to ask for a door, it was informed that the policy at this time was to only provide quiet rooms which do not have doors; and if she could advise the school how it can access a grant which will allow it to properly fit out the new room and resolve the issue for its new class. [44713/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

49. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there is more than one case in her Department where her education representatives have not engaged with the relevant contractor, arising from substantial building works; and to ensure that any snags or defects arising from substantial building works were remedied before the expiry of the defects liability period and if so, the number of cases in the past three years. [44820/23]

School Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

228. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to detail how pyrite remediation was funded in each of the six schools it was identified in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44821/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

229. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to detail the reason her Department representatives did not engage with the relevant contractor to ensure that any snags or defects were remedied in a school (details supplied) arising from substantial building works there, before the expiry of the defects liability period. [44823/23]

Protected Disclosures

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

395. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if she will instigate an independent investigation into the treatment of whistleblowers within the Prison Service, such as in the case of a person (details supplied), with specific reference to dignity at work and the use of the Civil Service code to discipline staff. [45167/23]

Courts Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

2. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice what progress has been made on resolving the pay restoration dispute with criminal barristers. [44134/23]

Prison Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

29. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if she will instigate a statutory review of the Prison Service as a safe working environment. [44137/23]

Prison Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

33. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice what measures have been taken to put the Prison Service on a statutory footing. [44136/23]

Prison Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

40. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if there is an outstanding WRC award to a prison officer (details supplied); and if so, the reason the award has not been paid. [44138/23]

Airport Policy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

188. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport if he will increase the number of noise monitors for aircraft in the Dublin Bay North area, with particular reference to those areas under or beside flight paths. [43352/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

127. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach how many times, and on what dates, the Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office convened in 2022 and 2023. [42120/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

128. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach how many times, and on what dates, the Implementation Group on Policing Reform convened in 2022 and 2023. [42121/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

129. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach how many times, and on what dates, the High-Level Steering Board on Policing Reform convened in 2022 and 2023. [42122/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

130. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach if he has been presented with annual reports for the ‘A Policing Service for our Future Plan’ for each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if so, if they can be made available to the public. [42123/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

131. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach when the latest report on progress for APSFF was made to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42124/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

132. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of when it is expected that the fourth APSFF iteration report will be provided; what opportunity there is for scrutiny of the progress and future of the plan’s success in achieving the original recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42125/23]

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]

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]

Defective Building Materials

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

334. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and secondary schools that currently have pyrite problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42791/23]

Defective Building Materials

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

335. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education whether the education welfare services (EWS) have been the only mechanism used to date by her Department to support pyrite remediation works within Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42792/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

336. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what Departmental monitoring systems are in place to oversee the completion of construction works, including the completion of works on the snag list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42793/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

337. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if records are kept in her Department of all outstanding school construction works, including snags, to be undertaken associated with new school builds or major school renovations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42794/23]

Defective Building Materials

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

338. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to ensure her Department puts in place the necessary measures to ensure the completion of the snag list and pyrite remediation works in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42795/23]

Vaccination Programme

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

571. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is sponsoring a vaccination campaign for a vaccination against shingles; if so, if the vaccination is available on the medical card and or drug payment scheme; and if not, if he will consider adding it to those schemes. [42173/23]

Labour Market

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

222. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what mechanisms he is examining to make it easier for teachers from outside Ireland to access teaching positions, in view of the current shortage of teachers; if teaching can be added to the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41012/23]

Labour Market

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

232. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what mechanisms she is examining to make it easier for teachers from outside Ireland to access teaching positions, in view of the current shortage of teachers; if teaching can be added to the critical skills list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41013/23]

School Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

254. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will ask her Department to investigate the case of a post-primary teacher (details supplied) whose request for incremental credits was refused in view of the fact that incremental credits have been allowed to primary teachers for service within the same school; and if she will review the procedures concerned to give equality between primary and post-primary awards for incremental credits in view of the shortage of teachers. [41205/23]

School Admissions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

257. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the case of a pupil (details supplied) whose school place has been delayed opening of their class but is currently not receiving any tuition as home tuition is not suitable or available; if she will confirm if the school will open in November 2023; and if an SNA in a mainstream school could be made available in the meantime. [41247/23]

School Meals Programme

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

365. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any way for a school (details supplied) to be added to the hot school meals programme for primary schools for this year. [41019/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

387. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the criteria and policy for which a parent is paid children’s allowance where custody is shared, with particular reference to instances where children spend equal time with each parent; and to outline the reasoning behind the policy. [41500/23]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

396. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number and name of each of the Garda Youth Diversion programmes currently operating in each of the Garda divisions in the Dublin Metropolitan area; the number of officers assigned to the juvenile liaison teams and to set out, in tabular form, the numbers for each of the following years - 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40983/23]

Medicinal Products

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

509. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health what measures he will take to increase the awareness of the danger for abuse and misuse of the drug pregabalin among the medical community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40993/23]

Medicinal Products

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

510. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if she will make pregabalin a controlled substance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40994/23]

Further and Higher Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

613. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the issue created by the technological universities where posts in disciplines which are heavily industry focused remain unfilled due to targets set for PhD-qualified staff (details supplied); if he will review the TU legislation to see whether a more appropriate balance between professionally experienced staff requirements and those for PhD is restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41237/23]

Further and Higher Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

614. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of plans to cut up to 20 courses from the Technical University Dublin; what support can be given to ensure that courses with strategic importance, such as geospatial surveying or architectural timber technology, can be identified and protected, even where there are lower numbers of students at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41238/23]

Further and Higher Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

615. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the SALI professorship awarded to TU Dublin has been advertised and filled. [41239/23]

Third Level Admissions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

102. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the CAO process to ensure that students do not get excluded without warning due to clerical errors, such as missing exam numbers. [40748/23]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

106. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what mechanisms, if any, are available to him to prevent third-level institutions from increasing rents in college-controlled accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40747/23]

Road Safety

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

105. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport if funding has been approved for school safety zone for schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40128/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

291. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when the proposed school build project for a school (details supplied) is due to commence; and what the next steps are to provide a permanent building for the school which is currently in temporary accommodation. [39863/23]

School Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

327. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when funding for a school (details supplied) will be approved. [40129/23]

Equality Issues

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

372. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of research (details supplied) on non-religious teachers; what plans, if any, she has to legislate to protect all teachers from religious discrimination, giving teachers the same protections under the Irish system as in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40553/23]

Third Level Costs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1050. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that an increase in the State contribution towards graduate entry medicine from a rate of €11,950 per student in the 2021/2022 academic year to a new rate of €14,500 has not led to a decrease in cost to the students, and that, combined with the withdrawal of the only graduate loan programme for such students, it has resulted in students applying overseas; what measures he intends to take to increase access to graduate medicine entry in view of the shortage of doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39515/23]

Schools Building Projects

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

677. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the position regarding progress on the development of a new permanent school building for a school (details supplied). [38497/23]

School Facilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

678. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the transfer of a school (details supplied). [38498/23]

School Admissions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

761. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be able to provide the promised school place to a pupil; if there has been a teacher appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39159/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

765. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her Department has conducted any analysis of the impact of the removal of the special cleaning allowance made during Covid; if her Department has conducted a survey of what the increase in cleaning costs has been for schools; and whether she will ensure that schools can meet the rising costs of school cleaning. [39187/23]

Departmental Policies

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

767. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) can be allowed pay a substitute teacher where a fixed-term position is available but unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39205/23]

Departmental Policies

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

768. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the prohibition on paying a substitute teacher where no fixed term or permanent teacher can be found can be lifted for a year in view of the shortage of teachers as in the case of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39206/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

775. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there has been any investigation into how many if any Irish schools have been affected by RAAC concrete issues such as those in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39306/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

776. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what safety inspection measures are taken to ensure the structural safety of school buildings from problems such as dry rot, inferior materials and corrosion, and if her Department conducts any safety audits into school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39307/23]

EU Regulations

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

952. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has made public the outcome of all consultations with stakeholders on the implementation of regulation 2021/57 regarding regulation of lead shot over wetlands. [39051/23]

EU Regulations

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

953. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) to address its concerns over the process by which the mapping for protection of wetlands under regulation 2021/57 was decided. [39052/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

40. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the crisis in the Artsakh Republic-Ngorno Karabach region; if any efforts are under way at national or European level to protect the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36001/23]

School Facilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

500. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the projected cost of ensuring every primary and secondary school has a school library, a school librarian, and access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37008/23]

School Facilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

501. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the projected cost of ensuring every DEIS secondary school is funded for the provision of a JCSP library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37009/23]

School Facilities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

502. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to outline the funding provided in each year since 2020 for the provision of school libraries; what current support streams are in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37010/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

503. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the current staffing schedule at primary level, for DEIS and non-DEIS schools; how many teachers are currently employed across the primary level system; the number employed in each year from 2018 to 2023, in tabular form; the cost of reducing the average class size to 20 pupils; the cost of each one-point improvement in staffing costs, and capital costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37011/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

504. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, the projected costs of reducing the staffing schedules for DEIS urban band 1 vertical schools to 17:1, DEIS urban band 1 junior schools to 15:1 and DEIS urban band 1 senior schools to 19:1; the costs for the 2024-25 school year; the current number of schools in each band; the staffing schedules that apply for DEIS urban band 2 and DEIS rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37012/23]

Departmental Data

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

505. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the current staffing schedule at second level; how many teachers are currently employed across the second-level system; the number employed in each year from 2018 to 2023, in tabular form; the cost of each one-point improvement in staffing costs, and capital costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37013/23]

Fee Paying Schools

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

506. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education how many children are enrolled in fee-paying private second-level schools in each year since 2018; the subsidy for teaching salaries and SNA posts in each of those years; the additional capital or grant expenditure provided in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37014/23]

Mental Health Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

507. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the projected cost of the current pilot programme of counselling supports for primary school pupils; the projected cost of a nationwide roll-out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37015/23]

Education Schemes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

508. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the projected cost of a 10% increase in funding for the school completion programme; the current financial and staff commitments in 2021-22 and 2022-23; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37016/23]

School Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

509. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the cost of every ten additional home school community liaison positions; how many are currently in place; the current financial commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37017/23]

State Examinations

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

510. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the cost of permanently abolishing fees for sitting the Junior and Leaving Certificate for 2024; the projected number of students in each year, by exam; the cost of waiving the fee in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37018/23]

School Transport

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

511. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the cost of abolishing school transport charges for concessionary students; if she will outline the changes in the fees for the scheme over the past two years; the current fees paid by students; the total fees collected this school year; the projected fees to be collected in 2023 for the 2023/24 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37019/23]

School Textbooks

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

512. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the full-year projected cost of free schoolbooks at primary level; the cost of expanding that to all secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37020/23]