Written Answers Nos. 61-82
63. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the efforts of the Government to highlight the potential economic impacts of ongoing revisions to the EU's general pharmaceutical legislation; whether concerns around the proposed reduction in the regulatory data protection baseline have been specifically highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33187/25]
View answerThe Department of Health is the lead Department responsible for the negotiations of the EU Pharmaceutical Strategy and Revision of the General Pharmaceutical Legislation. In 2023, to ensure a whole-of-government view, the then Minister for Health established a cross-Government and cross-agency group – the Pharmaceutical Strategy Working Group (PSWG) - of which my Department is a member.
In April 2023, as part of the Pharmaceutical Strategy, the European Commission published proposals to revise the general pharmaceutical legislation known as the EU Pharma Package. The general pharmaceutical legislation encompasses the regulation of the authorisation, manufacturing distribution, marketing, and monitoring of medicines. It essentially creates the framework that imposes controls from “raw material” to a “medicine being placed in a patient’s hand”. As part of the proposal to revise the general pharmaceutical legislation the Commission carried out and published a comprehensive Impact Assessment of the proposals.
The EU Pharma Package contains a draft Directive and Regulation which has been the subject of contentious negotiations at EU level for the past 18 months. The Pharma Package reached a significant milestone in the negotiation of the file on 4th June last when the Council of the European Union agreed their Mandate for negotiations with European Parliament.
The Mandate agreed by Council is now publicly available at the following links: data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9286-2025-INIT/en/pdf and data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9285-2025-INIT/en/pdf. The Mandate contains compromise positions on some of the most sensitive and contentious parts of the Pharma Package, including Regulatory Data Protection period (RDP), and the proposal got the support of all MS apart from Malta which abstained. The Council will now start negotiations with the European Parliament.
Ireland welcomed this significant milestone as this was the first revision of the legislation in 20 years. Moreover, the outcome of these negotiations will be of vital importance to patients, national health systems and to the pharmaceutical industry for many years to come. Throughout the negotiations, Ireland has sought a balanced compromise which supports a strong, competitive Pharmaceutical Industry in Europe while, at the same time, provides access to safe and innovative medicines which are affordable for health systems and individual patients.
Ireland considers getting agreement on the EU pharmaceutical package a priority to give certainty and stability in the regulatory landscape across Europe. Given the vital importance of this package, Ireland commits to working intensively with our EU partners to conclude this package.
64. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will outline Ireland’s position in the ongoing Council negotiations on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and related Omnibus proposals (COM 80 and COM 81); the specific steps the Government is taking at Council level to ensure that a risk-based approach to supply chain due diligence is retained in the final directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33197/25]
View answerIn the context of optimising the competitiveness of EU companies in the evolving global trading environment and ensuring proportionality, I am supportive in principle of initiatives to simplify the reporting requirements and reduce costs on companies, and most especially SMEs.
I would welcome agreement of the proposed changes in the Omnibus proposal on sustainability at the earliest opportunity in order to give business the legal certainty that it needs. However this does not mean losing sight of the objectives of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) but rather giving careful consideration to the proposals for change.
European Commission document COM (2025) 80, or the so-called ‘Stop the Clock’ Directive, which postpones the dates for certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements has been agreed by the co-legislators and will be transposed in Ireland before the 31 December 2025 deadline.
Commission document COM (2025) 81 is the so-called ‘Content’ Directive and includes a number of proposed legislative changes to the CSDDD. The omnibus proposal retains the requirement for in-scope companies to conduct risk-based human rights and environmental due diligence of their own operations, those of their subsidiaries and their direct business partners. Companies will also be required to conduct in-depth assessments where plausible information suggests the existence or possibility of adverse impacts arising from the operations of their indirect business partners.
Consideration of the proposed changes is ongoing at EU level and my Department is continuing to assess the implications as discussions progress.
65. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures HSA are taking in targeting the sea fishing sector to reduce high fatality rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33220/25]
View answerWhile much progress has been made over recent decades in improving workplace health and safety, the fact remains that people continue to be killed and badly hurt in work-related incidents.
Last year, 34 people lost their lives due to work activity in Ireland. Since 2005, 24 workers have died as a result of work-related activity in the fishing and aquaculture sector. Although there has been a welcome reduction in the number of fatalities in this sector over the past 5 years, it is important to remember that these are not just statistics; they represent individuals, families, friends, and communities who have been left devastated.
The foundation of workplace health and safety is clear: every worker is entitled to a safe place of work, and every employer has a duty to provide it. There is a strong legislative regime in Ireland to underpin that obligation and to protect all workers in terms of work-related health and safety.
Through targeted inspections, industry partnerships, education and the development of expanded digital resources, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) aims to support workers and employers in fostering safe, compliant and productive work environments. To this end the HSA recently targeted the Sea Fishing Sector in an inspection campaign that commenced on Tuesday 3 June for a two-week period.
During the campaign, inspectors from the HSA inspected vessels docked at key sea fishing ports around the coast including Dingle, Killybegs, Castletownbere, Rossaveal, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay with the aim of raising awareness of the hazards faced in the industry and the importance of managing safety and health before leaving port and while at sea.
Key hazards were addressed such as working in confined spaces, exposure to biological and chemical agents, risk of electrical shock, falling overboard or capsizing, manual handling, and extreme fatigue due to long hours at sea. Inspectors sought risk assessments and safety statements for each of the vessels inspected.
The HSA provides a range of guidance for the fishing sector including a Health and Safety Authority Fishing Vessel Safety Statement template which identifies frequently encountered hazards on fishing vessels and outlines other requirements vital for keeping everyone safe onboard.
The HSA participate in the National Emergency Co-ordination Group who distribute messaging on extreme weather events. However, a workplace risk assessment is one of the key tools for protecting the safety and health of workers who may be exposed to risks due to their work, including the risks arising or increasing due to weather events such as excessive heat or storms.
In addition, the Health and Safety Authority Managing Health and Safety in Fishing guidance document aims to provide practical guidance and to help improve standards of safety and health in the commercial sea/marine fishing sector.
66. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the proposed timebound provision for teachers who qualify outside the Republic of Ireland will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32865/25]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the state.
It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher.
The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher.
Under the Teaching Council Act, the Council makes regulations for the purposes of registration through statutory instrument, including to amend or replace existing regulations. A further Statutory Instrument (SI) is required to establish the proposed creation of this timebound provision that the Deputy is referring to in this query.
The drafting of the legislation is progressing, and the Teaching Council are currently in consultation with the Data Protection Commissioner as required in accordance with Article 36 (4) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Please note the current timeframes publicised are indicative and not definitive in relation to the progression of the drafting of the legislation and other tasks associated with the making of the new Registration Regulations. Given that there is a procedure and specific steps required, it is not possible to give any further detail in relation to the enacting of the legislation and the opening of the timebound provision.
67. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 11 June 2025; if a timeline can be provided for the estimated completion date of this project and when it will move to the next stage of the design process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32874/25]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs at the old fire station in Dun Laoghaire.
The project currently has planning permission and is being brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of the Department’s project manager.
The process of appointing the Design Team from the Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process.
Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The Project Manager and Design Team has been requested to provide an updated programme for this project, including the enabling works to be undertaken prior to the project proceeding to tender.
The major building project referred to by the deputy is a significant priority for my Department and the school and patron body will be updated as the project progresses.
68. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will engage directly with a school (details supplied) in terms of sanctioning a home school community liaison post for the school in order to help increase attendance, retention targets and educational outcomes among students and ease the administrative burden on the principal and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32877/25]
View answerTackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level.
My department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme which supports approximately 260,000 students.
Schools that were included in the most recent expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at Extension of DEIS to further schools.
The DEIS programme is based on the premise that in order to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of educational disadvantage, extra resources must be targeted as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need. The school referred to by the Deputy is not in the DEIS programme.
The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is one of the key supports provided by my department as part of the overall DEIS programme. Tusla Education Support Service manage the HSCL scheme on behalf of my department. The scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention.
All DEIS urban primary schools and all DEIS post-primary schools are included in the HSCL scheme, which currently serves 687 DEIS schools, catering for approximately 207,000 children and young people. The scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL coordinators, who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. A new DEIS Plan will be published in 2025, and any expansion to the role of the HSCL coordinator will be examined in the context of the new plan. This plan will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling educational disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.
69. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the application for a new school building (details supplied). [32878/25]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs. This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised. My Department will engage directly with the school authority in this context.
70. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she proposes to address the administrative burdens that arise in very large primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32885/25]
View answerThe role of schools within communities is crucial and I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution being made daily by all school leaders in the operation of our schools.
International evidence is clear on the vital impact that school leaders have on student outcomes, and on leading teaching and learning in our schools. To ensure that our school leaders are supported in an increasingly complex environment now and into the future my officials are examining how best to support school leaders.
A review of leadership supports, as committed to in the Programme for Government, is currently in development. This will examine current resourcing, distributed leadership, administrative and advisory supports, and professional learning supports for school leaders. Extensive consultation with stakeholders will inform this work.
The school leadership framework introduced in 2017 allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs. Today, 1 in 3 primary school teachers hold management positions. Budget 2024 provided for an additional 500 posts of responsibility (POR's) at Assistant Principal II level for the current school year while Budget 2025 provided for the equivalent of 500 AP II posts, being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all POR's in primary schools. A revised Post of Responsibility Schedule issued to schools in April to reflect this increase in posts of responsibility available to schools for the coming school year.
In examining leadership, my Department is acutely aware that we need to protect what works well in our school system and serves so many young people so well. We want to build on the strengths of the system and address challenges that will support our school communities and be responsive to the needs of students in an increasingly complex world.
The Programme for Government also commits to a trial of new administrative support for principals and boards of management to assist with the demands faced and support school leaders in rebalancing some of their time to leading teaching and learning. Planning for this trial is now at an advanced stage.
71. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the installation of additional accommodation at a school (details supplied). [32909/25]
View answerThe school to which the deputy refers has been granted capital funding under my Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme for the provision of the Reconfiguration of existing accommodation for two special educational needs classrooms and Reconfiguration works of a protected structure to provide two mainstream classrooms.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
Kerrigan Sheanon Newman Project Management (KSN) has been appointed, from my Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project and oversee all elements of construction. The first tranche of funding (45%) was released to the school authority in May 2024. A contractor has been assigned from the Department's framework and enabling works are due to commence on-site shortly.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working closely with the project managers and the school authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines
72. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she plans to reform admission criteria for entry into specific speech and language disorder special classes attached to primary schools given that the criteria for eligibility has proven to be discriminatory towards children with disabilities and therefore in contravention with equality clauses of numerous Bills legislating this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32929/25]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.
In December 2024, my Department undertook a review of Circular 0038/2007. This review has been completed and an updated circular, Circular 0024/2025 was published on the 20 March 2025. This circular can be found at the following link: gov.ie - Criteria for Enrolment in Special Classes for Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) or Speech Sound Disorder (SSD)
The term SSLD will no longer apply in relation to entry to these classes and will be replaced instead with Developmental Language Disorder – Speech Sound Disorder (DLD/SSD) which will apply, in some cases, for the 2026/2027 school year, as the admission process is already underway for 2025/2026. The revised criteria will see, among other changes, the removal of reference to IQ as one of the entry criterion for these classes.
The updates to circular 0038/2007, were informed by robust engagement with the Speech and Language Therapy service in the National Council for Special Education, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) and HSE Speech and Language Therapists. Department officials also engaged with education stakeholders, including representatives of schools who provide these classes, to consult on the draft of the circular. The feedback from the stakeholders has been incorporated into the revised circular.
73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide guidance on when a school should provide an SNA for children with ADHD and diabetes, and whether age and severity is taken into account. [32930/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
If a school feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website. Each case is individually assessed and is based on the student profile of each school.
Following the outcome of the review, the NCSE can make a local special educational needs officer (SENO) available to the school to discuss their current deployment of SNA supports in the school and to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
74. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the 1,600 additional special needs assistant posts announced in Budget 2025 have been awarded; if these 1,600 posts are all full-time posts and, if not, to provide a breakdown of the posts and their hours; the status of recruitment to fill these posts; when the SNA allocations for the 2025-2026 school year will be publicly announced by the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32931/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
I know the central role that our special needs assistants (SNAs) play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
That is why the number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually resulting in more SNAs than ever now being employed in our schools.
Budget 2025 provided for 1,600 SNAs, the largest number ever allocated in a single year, meaning the total number of SNAs available in our schools in September will be 23,179. This is more than double the number of SNAs that were in our schools 10 years ago.
As the Deputy knows, it is the role of the NCSE to manage the allocations of SNAs across the country and to ensure that all of the additional SNAs provided for by this government are allocated to schools to support those children with the highest level of need so they get the highest level of support.
The NCSE also now has a full complement of staffing so has the resources and supports to ensure they can do their work effectively and in a timely manner. The NCSE advised all schools on the week of 6 June of their SNA allocation for the upcoming school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
75. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will engage as a matter of urgency with a school (details supplied) in relation to the allocation of an extra special needs assistant, which is required for a student in an ASD class for the coming school year; if there is any cap or freeze on the recruitment of special needs assistants; if so to, the specific criteria being used to make these decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32932/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The NCSE advised all schools on the week of 6 June of their SNA allocation for the upcoming school year. The NCSE is responsible for the allocation of SNAs to schools, my department does not have a role in the allocation process. I have therefore forwarded the school's details to them for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
76. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address matters raised in a correspondence (details supplied) from the family of a child at risk of losing out on an appropriate school place in the coming academic year; if she will provide a definitive timeline for the new classes in the school in question to be completed; if she will account for the apparent delays in the project; if she will advise as to the specific contingency plans, if any, that are in place to ensure the child and other children do not miss out on school places next term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32937/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has advised that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) continues to work closely with the student’s family regarding options for school placements for the coming academic year.
Reconfiguration works to provide two special education classrooms, and two mainstream classrooms is in delivery for the school referred to by the Deputy. The use of the parish hall is part of this brief.
A full statutory application for change of use was required to facilitate the use of the parish hall as part of the project. A decision to grant planning permission for change of use was received on 13 June. A four-week appeal period has now commenced, if no appeal is lodged works on the project can begin week commencing the 14 July 2025.
The department is working to ensure the expedited delivery of all required accommodation solutions for special classes, and it is expected that the required accommodation will be in place for the start of the school year in the vast majority of cases. Where this is not the case, the NCSE and department will support the school to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to ensure that these classes can open while permanent accommodation is being provided.
77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the procedures for the development and implementation of new policies and materials relating to primary and post-primary education. [32960/25]
View answerI understand that this question relates to my department's work to prevent and address bullying behaviour.
Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying was launched on 1st December 2022. Cineáltas is my department’s whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools.
Cineáltas is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools.
It is centred on a child rights-based approach and provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour in our schools.
Cineáltas incorporates each of the nine components of UNESCO’s Whole Education Approach to prevent and address bullying behaviour. It is rooted in four key principles: prevention, support, oversight and community.
An implementation plan for Cineáltas was published on 10 April 2023 and commits to implementing each of the 61 actions contained in Cineáltas within a five-year period. An Implementation and Evaluation Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my department, has been established to oversee implementation of the actions. Implementation of the actions is well advanced and the Cineáltas implementation report for 2023 is due to be published shortly.
One of the more significant actions under Cineáltas was to update the 2013 Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. This action has been completed with the publication on 19 June 2024 of the Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
A working group comprising representatives from the Department of Education and Youth, teacher unions, school management bodies, student representatives and parent representatives was established in 2022 to review the 2013 Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
These updated procedures were developed in collaboration with the education partners and are heavily informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school staff, Board of Management members and the wider education community.
The Bí Cineálta procedures are centred on a child rights-based approach and support a partnership approach where all members of the school community work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour.
The procedures have been updated to take account of gender identity bullying, cyberbullying, racist bullying, sexist bullying, and sexual harassment. They support schools to develop clear strategies to prevent and address these bullying behaviours.
Circular 0055/2024 was published in August 2024 and provides school management authorities with further information on the updated Bí Cineálta procedures.
Implementation of the procedures is being supported by a suite of professional learning resources and information sessions for school staff, Board of Management members and parents.
Information seminars on the updated procedures were held throughout October 2024 which were open to school leaders from every school. From November 2024, Oide offered targeted in-person professional learning to two staff members from each school in the country, one of which must have been a school leader.
Furthermore, all schools could avail of a half-day closure in the current school year in order to engage with all school staff on the requirements of the updated anti-bullying procedures.
The requirements of the procedures will come into effect from the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year.
78. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the emergency works team have completed their review of an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32984/25]
View answerThe school in question submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for fabric defect works. The EWS area is acutely aware of this issue and has been engaging extensively with the school in question for some time. In this regard, some of the documentation submitted was provided in the wrong format and the EWS area has advised the school on what additional detail is needed. Once this has been received the EWS team will review the revised application and will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.
79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs that have retired in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [33006/25]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently unavailable in my Department.
My officials have commenced compiling the data and will forward directly to the Deputy.
80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new SNAs that started positions in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [33007/25]
View answerThe following table sets out the number of new SNAs that started positions in the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025:
|
Number of SNA's |
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
1694 |
2529 |
2647 |
2690 |
81. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the merits of amending the existing free schoolbook scheme for students in junior cycle years to include students in private schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33022/25]
View answerAs Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.
As you are aware, in February of this year I announced the details of the final phase of the Post-Primary Schoolbooks Scheme, which extends the Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme to all students in Senior Cycle, including Transition Year, in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme.
The revised guidance for post-primary schools was published in March and provides advice and support to schools on how the scheme is to be implemented. It can be accessed at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes
Post-Primary Schoolbooks Scheme funding issued to post-primary and special schools in March to ensure schools have sufficient time to implement the scheme in advance of the 2025/26 school year.
The funding provided under the Post-Primary Schoolbooks Scheme is specifically to provide free schoolbooks and core classroom resources to all students enrolled in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme.
Private fee-charging post-primary schools are not in the Free Education Scheme and are therefore not eligible to receive funding under the Post-primary Schoolbooks Scheme.
82. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the capitation grant for primary schools is significantly less than the capitation grant for post-primary schools. [33081/25]
View answerThe Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
It is difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post-primary level.
In general, post-primary schools are larger than primary schools. They have specialist rooms such as laboratories, workshops etc. This leads to higher unit costs for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.
There are also additional resources required at post-primary level for specialist subjects, such as, Home Economics, Wood Technology, Engineering, Graphics and Applied Technology.
Therefore, there is a difference in the level of capitation funding provided to Primary and Post-Primary schools.
The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
