Written Answers Nos. 369-390
369. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he expects the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 to be enacted; if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37661/25]
View answerThe Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published on 1 April 2025.
The Bill will deliver a new employment right by providing that, in general, an employer may not enforce a contractual retirement age which is below the State Pension Age (age 66) if the employee does not consent to retire.
The Bill completed Committee Stage on 2 July 2025.
The timeline for the enactment of the Bill is a matter for the Oireachtas.
Once enacted, there will be an appropriate lead-in time in advance of commencement of the legislation during which there will be a communications campaign to ensure employers and employees fully understand the implications of this new employment right.
There are existing guidelines available to both employees and employers to assist them in following best practices when dealing with retirement. The WRC’s Code of Practice on Longer Working sets out guidance for employers, employees and their representatives to follow during the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including responding to requests to work beyond the retirement age.
370. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if, given the eight competent authorities for the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act announced in March, he will set out the specific regulatory bodies and market surveillance authorities responsible for each of the prohibitions (Article 5) and high-risk uses (Annex III) in the Act (details supplied), in tabular form; if he will clarify the lead regulator for the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act in Ireland; if the lead regulator will be an independent authority or established within an existing Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37903/25]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question.
The AI Act sets out a phased enforcement timeline. The next key milestone for implementation is 2 August 2025, by which time member states must have designated market surveillance authorities and notifying authorities, collectively known as national competent authorities, and the Single Point of Contact for the Act.
From 2 August 2026 enforcement powers will come into effect for market surveillance authorities within their respective areas of responsibility.
For AI systems intended to be used as a safety component of a product in specified safety categories, or where the AI system is itself a product of those categories, enforcement will apply from August 2027.
My department recognises the importance of governance for AI in Ireland and over the last year, has been actively engaged with sectoral regulators to identify and agree regulatory responsibility for the obligations set out in the AI Act. As you note, a Government decision in March of this year saw Ireland adopt a distributed model and designate an initial eight public bodies as market surveillance authorities for the implementation of the AI Act.
As requested, the bodies designated as market surveillance authorities and notifying authorities are listed in tabular form in Table 1 and Table 2 below. This list may be expanded by further Government decisions.
In relation to Annex III of the Act, which lists eight high-risk use cases, the Data Protection Commissioner will be designated as a Market Surveillance Authority for high-risk use cases in points 1, 6, 7, and 8 of Annex III, as required in Art. 74 (8) of the AI Act. While some of the obligations on the market surveillance authorities, being sectoral specific, are quite clear cut, others are more cross-sectoral in nature or relate to areas where there is no existing regulator in operation. With regards to the remaining high-risk use cases, and the prohibitions listed in Article 5, my officials are working with colleagues across Government to finalise arrangements as appropriate.
Additionally and as provided for in the Government decision in March, my Department may also consider further additional authorities, if required to ensure comprehensive implementation of the Act, and like all Member States we are dependent on emerging EU guidelines and clarity to enable us, and any relevant authorities fully understand the role that they are taking on, and plan for the operations and resources that will be required for that role. To that end my department is actively liaising with the European Commission’s AI Office to avail of their support in that regard.
Given the distributed model adopted, there is also a requirement to have a central and coordinating authority to ensure the effective and coherent governance of the AI Act in Ireland. This new authority will also be designated as the Single Point of Contact as is mandated under the AI Act. My department, in consultation with officials across the wider government system, is also currently considering in detail the role and responsibilities required of, and the provisions necessary to operationalise, a central coordinating authority. Subject to government approval, it will be established in legislation as an independent statutory body to coordinate enforcement of the Act. In the interim period, in order to adhere to the challenging implementation timeline of the AI Act, it is envisaged that the central coordinating authority would operate within my department.
The AI Act is a regulation and as such has direct effect in member States. However primary and secondary legislation will also be required to provide for supervision and enforcement arrangements and other matters. My department is currently preparing the relevant draft legislative proposals.
It is important to note that while the market surveillance authorities are to be designated by 2 August 2025, enforcement powers for those authorities under the AI Act will not come into effect until 2 August 2026, thus providing time for member states and the designated authorities to finalise their arrangements and make the necessary provisions to become operational.
Table 1: Competent Authorities for High-risk AI Systems defined with respect to Product Safety Legislation (Section A, Annex I, AI Act)
|
Harmonised Legislation |
Product Type |
Market Surveillance Authority |
Notifying Authority |
|
Directive 2006/42/EC |
Machinery |
Health and Safety Authority |
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment |
|
Directive 2009/48/EC |
Toys |
Consumer and Competition Protection Authority |
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment |
|
Directive 2013/53/EC |
Watercraft |
Marine Safety Office of the Department of Transport |
Minister for Transport |
|
Directive 2014/33/EU |
Lifts |
Health and Safety Authority |
Minister for Tourism, Enterprise and Employment |
|
Directive 2014/34/EU |
Equipment for explosive atmospheres |
Health and Safety Authority |
Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment |
|
Directive 2014/53/EU |
Radio equipment |
Commission for Communications Regulation |
Commisison for Communications Regulation |
|
Directive 2014/68/EU |
Pressure equipment |
Health and Safety Authority |
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
|
Regulation (EU) 2016/424 |
Cableways |
Commission for Railway Regulation |
Minister for Transport |
|
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 |
Personal Protective Equipment |
Health and Safety Authority |
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment |
|
Regulation (EU) 2016/426 |
Appliances burning gaseous fuels |
Consumer and Competition Protection Authority |
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment |
|
Regulation (EU) 2017/745 |
Medical devices |
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
|
Regulation (EU) 2017/746 |
In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices |
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
Health Products Regulatory Authority |
Table 2: Annex III, AI Act – High-risk Use-cases
|
- |
Use Case |
Market Surveillance Authority |
|
1 |
Biometric identification or categorisation, emotion recognition |
Data Protection Commission* |
|
2 |
Safety components of critical digital infrastructures, road traffic, supply of water, gas, heating or electricity |
Arrangements to o be finalised |
|
3 |
Education and Vocational Training |
Arrangements to beo be finalised |
|
4 |
Employment, workers management, & access to self-employment |
Arrangements to beTo be finalised |
|
5 |
Access to essential private & public services |
Arrangements to be finalised |
|
6 |
Law Enforcement |
Data Protection Commission |
|
7 |
Migration, asylum & border control management |
Data Protection Commission |
|
8 |
Administration of justice & democratic processes |
Data Protection Commission |
*In so far as the systems are used for law enforcement purposes, border management and justice and democracy – as set out in Article 74.8 of the AI Act.
371. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of proposed changes to the school bus service for a school (details supplied); if she is aware that parents have been informed by Bus Éireann that the drop-off is being changed; the rationale for this change which will mean pupils will have to walk 1.1 kilometres to access transport; if a safety assessment has been completed in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36976/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.
Bus Eireann have advised that the previous arrangement whereby the pupils attending the first school referred to by the Deputy were picked up and dropped off in the grounds of the second school, will cease from September 2025. A new pick up point has been identified by Bus Éireann and communicated to parents.
372. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth his Department’s expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming and general cosmetic expenses, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [36991/25]
View answer373. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department’s expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers, specifying if such expenditure was on a contract or retainer fee basis, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37011/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.
The Department has not incurred any such expenditure.
374. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her expenditure on advertising, detailing the objective, duration, media platforms, advertising agency or agencies and cost of each advertising campaign, in each of the years 2015 to 2025. [37029/25]
View answerTotal advertising spend (including design and creative costs) is outlined below.
|
2025 to date |
€329,901.00 |
|
2024 |
€563,630.12 |
|
2023 |
€800,434.04 |
|
2022 |
€364,842.68 |
|
2021 |
€541,369.05 |
|
2020 |
€626,401.73 |
|
2019 |
€317,357.60 |
|
2018 |
€387,296.00 |
|
2017 |
€199,599.77 |
|
2016 |
€398,194.29 |
|
2015 |
€142,655.71 |
In this period, the department has engaged in a number of multimedia advertising campaigns. Up to 2024, the department engaged PHD media for media buying and Javelin and ZeroG for creative services. Spark Foundry (OneCore) won the contract for media buying and we commenced working with them in late 2024.
These include the Teaching Transforms campaign, which has been ongoing since 2018, to promote the teaching profession and encourage post-primary and third level students to apply for programmes of initial teacher education. This involves two bursts annually, one in January to advise of CAO deadline and again ahead of the CAO change of mind deadline in July. The various phases of the multimedia campaign have used a range of channels, including digital (online video and social media), radio (traditional and digital), and print (national papers and college press).
The department has, over the last number of years, engaged in public information campaigns in respect of school reopening, to ensure widespread awareness of public health advice in the context of COVID-19. It has undertaken targeted advertising and awareness campaigns for students involved in the 2020 Calculated Grades process and the 2021 Leaving Certificate and Accredited Grades process to ensure awareness of the changed procedures under these models, necessitated by the pandemic.
Other campaigns have included school transports advertising since 2023 to let parents and guardians of school-aged children (particularly in rural Ireland) know about the Bus Eireann portal, there they can check eligibility for free school transport and or register and pay for school bus tickets. The campaign is run in two bursts, one when the portal opens and a second to inform the audience of its closing date. This is another multimedia campaign that comprises regional and national print media, radio and digital/social. Similarly, the department has run a multimedia campaign in recent years in relevant bursts to advise of the Free School Books initiative and both primary and post-primary level.
From 2015 to 2018, the department ran a series of multimedia campaigns on European Schools recruitment, Language Connect Awareness Initiatives and Out-of-School Education provision.
375. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37046/25]
View answerThe Minister for Education has not contracted or paid for any organisation, company or person for media training from 1 January 2015 to date.
376. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37064/25]
View answerCosts incurred in 2024: €3,936.00 (Inc VAT)
Name of contractor: Q4PR.
Description of works: The costs were for strategic communications advice related to the planned primary school survey (including overall approach and communications strategy).
377. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of each capital project funded by her Department in each year since 2020, by county, including name of school, nature of the project, square metre, final costs excluding land acquisition, final cost including land acquisition and cost per square metre, in tabular form. [37079/25]
View answer378. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure value for money on capital projects funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37080/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan. This investment has resulted in approximately 1,400 completed school building projects, including large-scale projects, additional accommodation, and modular buildings. In addition construction is currently underway in over 320 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. My department also completed more than 3,000 smaller-scale school building improvements through emergency works and summer works schemes during this timeframe.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure . 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 which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
My department has a robust approach to cost control and ensuring value for money, including:
• Optimising use of existing capacity wherever possible, including reutilisation of modular accommodation when used for interim purposes
• Cost and floor area norms for schools
• An extensive suite of technical guidance documents which help control the scope of individual school projects
• Project management supports across various delivery mechanisms including the ETB sector and various other delivery partners.
• A range of procurement frameworks which support the delivery of the school building programme as part of overall procurement strategy.
Standardised layouts and specifications is a common feature of school building projects and aligns well with the strong emphasis on maximising efficiency and value for money considerations. My department has detailed and standardised procedures in place for appraisal, design, tender and construction of all school building projects. Design team procedures specify the points in the project lifecycle at which approval must be sought from the department, i.e. preliminary design, developed design, detailed design, tender and construction which align with the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly Public Spending Code) and Capital Works Management Framework. These processes include for robust stage approval reviews which challenges all elements of design and specification. These are an essential element of good cost control and supports market interest in our school building project.
The wide ranging nature of projects being delivered under my department’s capital programme also assists with maximising all aspects of market capacity. School building projects that add capacity can range from 1 classroom extension at a primary school to a very large new school project such as for a new 1,000 student post-primary school. Other types of projects include projects to repurpose existing accommodation, typically for facilitating the establishment of new special classes and also projects to address maintenance and condition issues in schools, such as under the Emergency Works Scheme, Summer Works Scheme etc. Most of these projects are managed and delivered on a devolved basis by individual school authorities so the more detailed type of information sought by the Deputy is primarily dealt with at local level.
Notwithstanding this, the status of all projects is set out at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/major-projects/. This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
With in excess of 4,400 projects completed since 2020, the dataset is very substantial. If the Deputy would like more specific information on an individual project/s my department can link in with the relevant school authorities for full details on same.
379. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will re-introduce the route for people who undertook an early childhood care bachelor's degree to attend a postgraduate course in a college (details supplied); and the supports he has put in place to help undergraduates progress from their early childhood care degree to furthering their studies to become a special education teacher. [37082/25]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001 - see: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/8/enacted/en/html - and in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 - see: www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/08/revised-teaching-council-registration-regulations-2016.pdf
There are five routes of registration, the minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.
Under 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 the Council’s responsibility to ensure that all teachers entering the profession in Ireland have met the required standards. These standards have been established following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, research, and in accordance with Department of Education policies and priorities and developed over a number of years.
The St. Nicholas Montessori College degree in Montessori Education had long-standing recognition with the Department of Education (DE) and was subsequently amalgamated into the Council’s Registration Regulations under Route 4. Since the making of the 2016 Regulations and the development of registration regulations, standards for initial teacher education and accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education, the phasing out of recognition for the Montessori qualification under Route 4 has been implemented.
Route 4 formerly provided for applicants who had obtained the level 8 Bachelor of Education in Montessori Education from St Nicholas Montessori College, which was commenced on or before 1 October 2018 and completed on or before 31 December 2023, to apply for registration up until 31 December 2023. This provision which was subject to extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders is now closed.
It had been known that this was being phased out with a clear timeframe for same, which outlines that the qualification was only acceptable for registration under Route 4 Other where the application was made on or before 31 December 2023.
All initial teacher education programmes in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. The course being referred to in this query, was not a course of primary initial teacher education. At the time, St Nicholas’s did not seek to offer any other course of primary initial education.
The Education for Persons with Special Needs Act 2004 - see: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/30/enacted/en/html - provides that people with special educational needs are educated in an inclusive environment, as far as possible and have the same right to access and benefit from education as children who don’t have these needs.
The Teaching Council has published standards, Céim, for initial teacher education - see: www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/08/ceim-standards-for-initial-teacher-education.pdf - which set out the requirements which all programmes of qualification for teaching in Ireland must meet in order to gain accreditation from the Teaching Council. It is also a benchmark for anybody seeking to register as a teacher in Ireland.
Céim includes core elements that ITE programmes must contain, including Inclusive Education: which "includes the fostering of appropriate learning environments, including digital ones, which support the development of student teachers’ ability to provide for the learning needs of all pupils by utilising, for example, a universal design for learning framework." This is intended to provide the foundational competencies teachers will need in order to teach in SEN settings.
There are a number of Graduate and Post-graduate Diplomas in the field of Special Education which are approved by the Department of Education and can be used to add this sector to a teacher’s registration where the teacher also holds an accredited teacher education qualification.
The Teaching Council works within Department policy and central to this policy is that all teachers teaching children with Special Educational Needs should be qualified Primary or Post-Primary teachers in the first instance and may then apply for one of the DE recognised qualifications in Special Educational Needs as outlined in Circular 0044/2019: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/dbbed0ae-00442019-.pdf
380. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding will be allocated under the application for the new summer works scheme for a school (details supplied). [37083/25]
View answerThe purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.
The CASWS operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works such as external environment works which could include carparking and set down areas.
I can confirm my department have received an application under the CASWS for the school in question. However, it should be noted that applications will be assessed in accordance with availability of funding.
It is envisaged that approvals in any given year will involve a spread of categories rather than the traditional single category at a time. This is aimed at managing market capacity and maximising value for money opportunities for school authorities.
The CASWS will operate on a multi-annual basis with the first tranche of projects being announced in Q4 2025 for commencement in summer 2026. Under this scheme, approved applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons (as above) in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.
Full details of the new CASWS, Circular (0029/2025) for the scheme and guidance documents for schools can be found at the below link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/summer-works-scheme/
381. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the permanent extension of a school (details supplied); the reasons modular accommodation was not provided in September 2024; if it will be ready for September 2025 or alternative accommodation would be provided for two special classes that were sanctioned in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37123/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department is in receipt of an application under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question was approved a traditional build extension of one Mainstream classroom, two Special education tuition rooms and two Special education classrooms in 2024. This project is currently at stage 1 with our Devolved delivery unit. In addition, this year, the school has also been approved for an additional two modular Special education classrooms to facilitate the opening of two special classes for the 2025/26 school year. This accommodation is being progressed through the department’s Modular Accommodation Framework.
In support of the expedited delivery of critical school accommodation my department has put in place a Modular Accommodation Framework. In addition, my department has put new project manager support in place to assist schools with the delivery of this critical modular accommodation. The use of my department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. All of these supports help ensure that the administrative burden for schools on procuring and delivering modular accommodation solutions is significantly eased.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, 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 which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
It is not possible to give definitive timeframes for the completion of school building projects, however my department can confirm that it is intended to deliver the modular project for two special education classrooms as soon as possible. It is targeted to have it in place either in advance of the 2025/26 school year or within the first term. The local special educational needs organiser (SENO) remains available to assist schools where accommodation is not in place in time for the start of the new school year.
I can assure the Deputy that officials from my department are currently working closely with the project manager and the school authority to ensure that the new modular classrooms are delivered as soon as practicable.
382. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on an announced sanctioned special class for a school (details supplied); to provide details on when the admissions process will commence; when the class will be ready; whether this class has actually been sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37124/25]
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.
My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE have advised that a new special class has been sanctioned in the school. That the school is currently in the process of organising repurposing works and are also offering places to children at this point in time. This is the 4th special class to be established in the school and the NCSE understand that the places will be offered on a phased basis - 3 places for the 2025/2026 school year and 3 for the following 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.
383. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin 15 awaiting a place in a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37125/25]
View answer384. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the shortfall of places for children in Dublin 15 for a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37126/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
This 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.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places are being created in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The NCSE has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. As Minister I also directed a school in Celbridge to open 2 new special classes under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998.
Of these new special classes 98 are in County Dublin, 79 at primary and 19 at post primary level. This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. 16 of these new special classes are being provided in schools in the D15 school planning areas. This is the single largest annual increase in special class provision in both D15 and Dublin more broadly.
There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. Offers of places for these new special schools are being made at present.
Minister McEntee and I continue to meet the NCSE and senior Department officials each week to track the progress being made in relation to children and young people securing specialist placements for the coming school year.
The NCSE continues to work very closely with parents and some schools in Dublin to ensure that specialist places are confirmed for children and young people as soon as possible. The situation is progressing day to day and week to week. Minister McEntee has committed to providing an update to Cabinet on this matter later this month and an update will be provided to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth thereafter as well.
In relation to some of the challenges that arise in terms of matching children and young people to available places, the NCSE advise that there continues to be some children being offered special education places that are unknown to them. Some families who NCSE may have expected to accept an offer of a placement may decide not to accept a placement. Some children and young people may have a dual recommendation for a special class or special school place. Parents may opt for a special class if it is closer to them, even if they have a recommendation for special school which is why the individual casework by NCSE with parents is essential and this level of detail is known only at local level by the NCSE.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of new measures introduced to support forward planning going forward and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October has been set in which parents must do so. This notification will provide the NCSE with valuable insights as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time. The earlier date will also allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes by 31 December 2025.
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.
385. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her Department’s engagement with Fingal County Council regarding the temporary access of land for outdoor recreational and sensory regulation use for a school (details supplied), considering Fingal County Council’s willingness to facilitate this request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37149/25]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers to was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school building projects under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide a 4 Classroom SEN base and 2 SET classrooms. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
In March 2025, my Department wrote to the school confirming that funding would not be provided for the proposed temporary development during the construction phase. To support the advancement of this project, the design team should be encouraged to develop proposals that remain within the boundaries of the school’s existing site ownership. The Department has assessed the project and advised that this is possible.
My department has also engaged with Fingal County Council regarding this matter and advised that there are no immediate plans for the land in question. Should any developments arise in the future, the Department will ensure that the Council is appropriately updated.
386. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her Department’s correspondence between a sporting organisation and a school (details supplied) regarding the possible leasing of recreational lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37150/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that this proposal was considered by my department when received. My department are not in a position to approve this proposal as the lands in question are to be retained for possible future educational accommodation requirements.
387. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any engagement her Department has had with an organisation (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to its pre-Budget 2026 submission; if she will be engaging with this group as part of Budget negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37153/25]
View answerSubmissions received for Budget 2026 Department of Education and Youth core funding will be considered as part of the Department's Budget 2026 estimates process.
I can advise the Deputy that, under the 2025 Dormant Accounts Fund, funding of €180,000 was approved for the organisation in question through my Department.
388. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her Department’s efforts to provide summer provision for two families (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37155/25]
View answerDetails of the 2025 Summer Programme were published on the 13th of February 2024. For this year’s programme, funding of €62 million was secured in Budget 2025 to ensure its continuance.
All schools have an opportunity to run a programme for those children who need it the most. These children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.
The main priority again in 2025 is ensuring that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.
The Summer Programme is reliant on schools and their staff choosing to participate on a voluntary basis. To encourage schools to run a Summer Programme, a range of supports and measures have been introduced. For special schools, these include a bespoke pilot programme, a national coordinator, a shorter school day and additional grant funding. For all schools, supports include key leadership roles, higher personal rate of pay for staff, enhanced capitation, a transport grant and earlier staff payments.
This year, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education have partnered together in a pilot project designed to combat holiday hunger. Schools who are eligible to avail of the School Meal Programme during school term will be able to make meals available during this year's Summer Programme. This will help to alleviate the costs for schools associated with running a Summer Programme and for parents. It will also be in addition to the other supports and measures already in place.
All the supports and incentives introduced, both in 2025 and in previous years, have been developed and designed to increase participation by allowing all schools (Primary, Special and Post Primary) to provide the Summer Programme. These measures are aimed at maximising the number of children who can participate in a school-based programme with a specific focus on ensuring children with the most complex needs receive the targeted support.
Despite these measures and incentives, it is a matter for schools to decide if they wish to run a school-based programme. Where a school-based programme is not being run or a place is unavailable, the home-based programme will be available for those children with complex special education needs.
Under this provision, parents can engage a tutor or a Special Needs Assistant to provide 10 hours of tuition/care support each week for 4 weeks.
In the case of the children concerned, both have been approved a place on the home-based Summer Programme with the schools and parents being informed on the 21st of May and 5th of June respectively.
389. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school building project (details supplied); the reason for any delays; the projected timeframe for the issuance of the letter of acceptance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37159/25]
View answerThe project referred to by Deputy is a large-scale capital project for the construction of a new extension and the refurbishment of existing facilities to accommodate 1,000 pupils, including provision for Special Educational Needs (SEN) classrooms.
Due diligence by my Department is a critical part of the overall completion of the Stage 3 process and is critical to ensuring quality and value for money, and that projects are progressed within overall budgetary parameters.
With respect to this project, certain issues that arose during the procurement process, and the requirement to carefully manage the capital programme in line with the Infrastructure Guideline and available capital funding had an impact on the timelines for completing the overall procurement process. More than four years has elapsed since the publication of the contract notice and more than two years since the tender submission deadline.
Given the passage of time since tenders were returned an unacceptably high risk that the contract may not successfully be delivered within budget has been identified. On that basis, a decision was made to collapse the tender procedure.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation 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.
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.
390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current average processing time for schools’ applications to the NCSE for additional SNA supports following a formal diagnosis; the difference in response time between mainstream schools and special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37175/25]
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.
I know the central role that our 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs.
The NCSE are responsible for the allocation of SNAs to schools, my department does not have a role in the allocation process.
The NCSE is the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at: oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie
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.
