Written Answers Nos. 138-157
138. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being proposed by Government to enhance access to finance for scaling Irish SMEs, including in the context of additional funding provided in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55925/25]
View answerIreland has a strong start-up ecosystem, but scaling remains a challenge due to limited access to finance.
In July 2025, Minister Burke published the Report ‘Market Demand for and Supply of Scaling Finance in Ireland’, which identified a €1.1 billion funding gap for deals from €3 million and Series A+ rounds over the next 3–5 years.
To address these and broader challenges the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is finalising a Finance for Scaling Implementation Strategy. This Strategy will align with the commitments outlined in the Programme for Government and supports the specific actions set out in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.
The purpose of the Strategy is to move towards an ecosystem in which firms will have a reliable range of funding options throughout their enterprise journey. The Strategy will present a two-phased approach, with immediate market interventions to provide capital to the market in Phase One, including through an Enterprise Scaling Fund, administered by Enterprise Ireland.
The exact design features of the fund are currently being developed by my Department and Enterprise Ireland to have the fund in place as soon as possible. This work will be progressed over the coming months to have the fund in place in 2026.
It is important to note that the Enterprise Scaling fund is only part of a suite of instruments, to be delivered across two phases that will work to enhance the ecosystem and consequently reduce the gap in the market. The second Phase will develop policy actions to further incentivise private capital to invest more at the scaling stage.
139. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has investigated the possibility of permitting the CRO to accept e-signatures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56022/25]
View answerI should clarify at the outset that the Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and has operational independence in the exercise of related functions.
I am informed that the Companies Registration Office (CRO) does facilitate digital signatures using the Revenue Online Service (ROS) Digital Signing Cert. This functionality is available for a large number of CRO forms, covering the most common activities such as the filing of annual returns and the changing of directors and their details. The Registrar periodically reviews and updates the forms that may be submitted electronically to the CRO.
140. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will clarify a recent statement by the Teaching Council about a timebound provision that will allow teachers who trained abroad to complete the Droichead process and transfer to Route 1 registration; when this timebound provision will be implemented; the process for eligible teachers to apply; and if she will give assurance that this route will remain open long enough to allow those already teaching in Ireland to complete Droichead. [55533/25]
View answerThe 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. The qualification requirements for each route are set down in the Schedule.
The qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are assessed on an individual and holistic basis for the purposes of registering as a teacher. Qualifications are assessed for comparability with graduates of initial teacher education programmes accredited by the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. The EU Directive provides for the assessment of qualifications for the purposes of recognition, and this recognition may be subject to conditions.
To assist further with teacher supply challenges, I announced last April that I would work with the Teaching Council to introduce a proposal to enable eligible teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland to apply for registration and complete their induction requirement here.
I see this as an important step in encouraging more teachers to work and start their careers here in Ireland and I am pleased to note that significant progress has been made towards realising this measure.
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) was required to establish the proposed creation of this timebound provision. A new set of registration regulations were drafted which included the provision for induction in the state for teachers qualified outside of the state, and on that basis engagement with the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) was required. A proportionality impact assessment was carried out. There was also consultation with various stakeholders. Legal advice was sought to ensure that the new regulations are appropriate and proportionate, with no legal impediments, which requires more time than applies to an amending an SI.
It is expected that primary and post-primary teachers, who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland and apply to complete their induction here under the new provision, will be subject to meeting eligibility and qualifications requirements to enable registration.
I am pleased to inform you that the final draft of the new Registration Regulations has been received from the Teaching Council and is progressing through the required procedures so that it can be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas to be implemented in the coming days.
Please refer to the Teaching Council website, www.teachingcouncil.ie, for updates regarding the making of the new Registration Regulations, and for information on accessing the timebound provision for overseas qualified applicants to register and complete their induction in the State. Queries regarding the procedure involved in relation to the timebound provision should be directed to the Teaching Council once the new Registration Regulations are in place.
141. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline on the revised stage 1 submission for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55542/25]
View answer142. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline on arranging a stage 1 stakeholders meeting for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55543/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The Brief for this project is the development of a 32 Classroom Primary School with 4 classrooms for pupils with Special Educational Needs including Pyrite Remediation, the Refurbishment of Existing Buildings and the construction of a New Build Extension and all associated site works, including associated play areas.
The major building project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1 - Preliminary Design, where the design team assess the site and current buildings, and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage, to be then further detailed and developed and fully cost-planned, before seeking statutory approvals, including planning permission.
Interim Stage 1 architectural workshops were held between the Design Team and the Department in Q4 2023, and the Design Team submitted their Stage 1 report to the Department in late Q4 2023.
Upon review of the report, a further detailed architectural workshop was held between the School Authorities, the Project Manager, Design Team and the Department in February 2024.
Following that meeting, the Design Team were requested to consider the Departments comments in relation to the site and design options presented.
Department Officials and Design Team members have met on site at St Patricks NS in attempts to develop appropriate design solutions that will best meet the needs of the school, and being cognisant of the 3rd party occupiers at the same site.
The Design Team are to prepare a revised Stage 1 submission, which upon receipt, will be reviewed, and a Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting will then be arranged.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
The department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
143. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason hand-dryers have not been installed at a new school (details supplied) given the long-term cost savings and environmental benefits of their installation, providing a directive to use paper towels in their place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55631/25]
View answerThe large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 – Construction.
The project brief for the Major Project at Holy Family Community School includes the Demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with Special Education Needs Unit and PE Hall.
The Departments School Design Guide - SDG 02-06 Sanitary Facilities states that the provision for hand drying facilities shall be paper towel or cotton/linen towels. Electric hand dryers are not permitted. The sanitary facilities should have adequate space for disposable hand towel dispensers and a refuse bin for the disposal of paper towels.
The Department of Education and Youth have an ongoing policy of updating and improving its suite of Technical Guidance Documents / School Design Guides (TGDs / SDGs) for schools with a view to offering better guidance to school authorities and Design Teams.
The Department has undertaken extensive review exercises of recently built schools. Lessons learnt incorporating feedback from schools and international best practice has resulted in the formation of our guidelines.
144. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the new school building project (details supplied); the actions she will take to progress this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55637/25]
View answer145. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to significant details in progressing a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55638/25]
View answer146. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis for the stalling of works in relation to a new school building for (details supplied); if she is conscious of the significant financial outlay made by her Department to the appointed design team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55639/25]
View answer147. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the total level of expenditure to date spent by her Department on the new school building (details supplied); if she is conscious of the need to ensure value for money in the progression of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55640/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 145, 146 and 147 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning – Developed Design, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
This major project is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The brief for this project is the development of a new school building on the existing site for 350 pupils plus accommodation for children with special educational needs and all associated siteworks.
On receipt and review of the Stage 2(a) Submission by my Department, the Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting will be arranged between the School Authorities, Design Team, Project Manager, and the Department.
Following that meeting, my Department will advise all Stakeholders regarding the further progression of the project.
Until all statutory applications have been secured, it will not be possible to provide an estimated timeline.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The expenditure on this major project is deemed commercially sensitive as it includes expenditure on another school.
148. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she expects the NSCE to begin the process of distributing SNAs among schools following an allocation of 1,717 additional SNAs under Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55641/25]
View answerIn 2026, over €3 billion will be spent supporting children with special educational needs. It will ensure that specialist capacity continues to grow by providing 3,000 specialist places. The majority of these places will be available in special classes within mainstream schools. It will increase our special educational posts by 860 special education teacher and over 1,700 special needs assistant (SNA) posts.
This will mean we will have over 46,500 professionals dedicated to supporting students with special educational needs in our schools. This is one of the highest annual increases in posts to date and is a firm reminder of this government’s commitment to supporting students with special educational needs.
The NCSE will, as done this year and in previous years, review all school allocations for the 2026/27 school year and will allocate or reallocate SNA posts to schools based on the care needs of the students enrolled. For the 2026/27 school year it is expected to align the notification of SNA allocations along with the annual staffing schedules to schools (mainstream and special education teachers). This process normally occurs in February each year. This will allow schools to better plan for the teaching and care needs of their students in a more timely manner. It will also provide certainty and assurances to affected staff of their future school placements by allowing the SNA redeployment processes to conclude as appropriate.
149. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address an urgent matter regarding school transport (details supplied); if she is aware that the bus transporting six children to the school is no longer operational; if she will outline what immediate measures can be taken to ensure these children have access to school transport while a replacement service is arranged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55645/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Youth on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Bus Eireann has advised that the route did not operate from the 06.10.2025. Suitable cover has been sourced and this service recommenced on the 14.10.2025
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting or temporarily without transport for students with special educational needs. School Transport Section will contact the families affected to offer them a special transport grant to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements, while they were without a service.
150. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding a school extension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55647/25]
View answerThe school referred by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for a project to provide 1 mainstream classroom. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The project is currently at Stage 1, and my Department has been engaging with the school regarding outstanding documentation. Upon receipt, this will be assessed from both technical and cost perspectives in line with the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subject to the due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is essential to maintaining budgetary control across the programme.
The school has requested to progress to the Tender stage; however, the Department has not approved advancement beyond Stage 1/2a (preliminary design). We have recently communicated with the school regarding this matter.
Once this issue is clarified and reviewed, the Department will provide direct guidance to the school authority on the appropriate next steps for progressing this important project.
151. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progression of development and enhancement works at a school (details supplied) County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55657/25]
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.
The purpose of my department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.
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 1,400 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 €1.6 billion.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The application from the school in question will be considered as part of this process and the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.
152. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is using agentic AI in the delivery of its services or operations; if it is considering the use of agentic AI, and in what contexts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55695/25]
View answerMy Department continue to review and follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform on the use of Artificial Intelligence.
My Department has not deployed Agentic AI solutions at this time.
My Department will continue to assess the suitability of Agentic AI on a solution by solution basis.
153. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of hours a person (details supplied) has completed in both national school and in secondary school since their time registered with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55726/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is expected that all teachers who are employed in schools, or who are working in substitute capacity, are registered with the Teaching Council, which includes amongst other things having a teaching qualification.
Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act commenced on 1 November 2013 and took effect on 28 January 2014. From then, all teachers in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid by the State. At the same time the Minister made regulations (further to amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 in the Education (Amendment) Act 2012), to enable a school in urgent or unforeseen circumstances e.g. to avoid closure of a school or cancellation of classes, to employ, for up to five consecutive days at a time, a person who is not registered as a teacher with the Teaching Council.
I can advise you that a statement of service has now been sent to the individual concerned, which notes the number of hours which have been completed by her in primary, secondary, community and comprehensive schools, to date. Should the individual have been employed by the Educational Training Board (ETB) she will need to contact them directly to obtain a statement of her service.
154. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the school transport system will be reformed so that by 2026, all children are eligible for school transport, as universal access will ensure equity in education, reduce car dependency, cut emissions, and support Ireland in reaching its climate targets, and guaranteeing every child a safe, reliable, and sustainable means of getting to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55728/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Temporary alleviation measures (TAMs) will continue for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport will be provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest school or post-primary centre. This is only if they have applied and paid or entered medical card details on time.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. 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 may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It is proposed to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year where the Department began testing the feasibility of a number of approaches through a series of pilot programmes; these pilot programmes are held in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann.
A total of 14 pilot projects are underway in the current school year. These pilots are being evaluated to provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport services, and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport.
It is intended to continue current pilots for the upcoming school year. They will be monitored during the year and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year.? The findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.
Work is also underway to identify where further pilot programmes may be conducted. A number of approaches are being examined including the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify how many additional children would become eligible and where they are located. A digital mapping project of all existing school bus routes has been developed and there is ongoing collaboration with the Department of Transport, Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority in regard to planned expansion of public transport routes to explore where integration may be possible.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.
155. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of school building projects in County Kildare for the years 2022 to 2025, including the status and expected completion dates, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55795/25]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition, over 200 SEN Repurposing projects delivered maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration.
Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
In Kildare, my department has invested over €382m since 2020, of which circa €373m was invested in school building projects. This investment has supported the completion of 64 school building projects including 9 new school buildings. Currently 22 projects are in construction, of which 2 are New School Buildings. In addition, 21 further projects are at an advanced stage of delivery, of which 7 are New School Buildings.
The current status of all projects is set out under item number ten at the following link (www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
156. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide primary and post-primary enrolment numbers in County Kildare for the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55796/25]
View answerPlease find attached requested data.
Data is collated from the final primary and post-primary enrolment lists for years 2022 to 2024, 2024 being the latest year we have final enrolment data. The lists can be found at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/data-on-individual-schools/.
Enrolments are tied to the census date 30th of September in each academic year for primary and post-primary enrolments.
Primary Schools
|
County |
2022-2023 |
2023-2024 |
2024-2025 |
|
Kildare |
29,290 |
29,283 |
29,283 |
|
Totals |
29,290 |
29,283 |
29,283 |
Post-primary schools
|
County |
2022-2023 |
2023-2024 |
2024-2025 |
|
Kildare |
21,302 |
21,881 |
22,564 |
|
Totals |
21,302 |
21,881 |
22,564 |
157. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils enrolled in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí in County Kildare for the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55797/25]
View answerPlease find attached requested data.
Data is collated from the final primary and post-primary enrolment lists for years 2022 to 2024, 2024 being the latest year we have final enrolment data. The lists can be found at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/data-on-individual-schools/.
Enrolments are tied to the census date 30th of September in each academic year for primary and post-primary enrolments.
The Programme for Government includes commitments to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and to support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
Work is at an advanced stage in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. A comprehensive consultation process was conducted to inform the policy. The department commissioned Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, to analyse the information gathered through the consultation, and to conduct a review of national and international literature in relation to teaching through the medium of minority languages.
Officials in my department have drawn on the insights gained from this consultation process, and from the research in developing the new policy. The information gleaned from the consultation has been considered in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education, the estimated demand in the education system, as well as issues relating to teacher supply and the department’s budgetary and legislative context.
A taskforce is due to be established as an action under this policy to explore the various models of Irish-medium education provision that exist, and to facilitate collaboration between the department and key stakeholders in re-conceptualising the current models of provision, if necessary. Consideration of teacher supply for Irish-medium education will also be a crucial factor in the work of the taskforce and in the provision of high-quality education in the sector.
Gaelscoileanna
|
County |
AY 2022 |
AY 2023 |
AY 2024 |
|
Kildare |
2,530 |
2,510 |
2,547 |
|
Totals |
2,530 |
2,510 |
2,547 |
Gaelcholáistí
|
County |
AY 2022 |
AY 2023 |
AY 2024 |
|
Kildare |
486 |
512 |
531 |
|
Totals |
486 |
512 |
531 |
