Written Answers Nos. 394-413
394. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to change the regulations regarding persons aged 70 and over, driving vehicles providing a public service such as school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65626/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a substantial national operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services.
The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme, provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.
Under the new Programme for Government, a commitment has been made to "Carry out an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the School Transport Scheme".
There is ongoing engagement between the Department and Bus Éireann to advance this commitment as quickly as possible, while also being cognisant of available evidence regarding any safety risks in the context of any change in policy.
395. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will direct the NCSE to issue additional letters of eligibility where assessments were completed shortly after the 1 October deadline and where it is clear that delays resulted from systemic or service-capacity issues rather than any failure on the part of families. [65646/25]
View answer397. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the NCSE policy of refusing to issue letters of eligibility where parents submitted notifications on time but were unable to obtain the required professional reports until later in October; and if flexibility will be introduced in light of capacity constraints within assessment services. [65648/25]
View answer399. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her assessment of the impact that refusing additional letters of eligibility will have on the ability of children with complex needs to access appropriate school placements for September 2026 where some families were only weeks outside the October 1 deadline, particularly in cases where school enrolment windows extend into early next year. [65650/25]
View answer401. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will undertake a review of the NCSE eligibility process, including timelines and communication practices, to ensure it operates in a fair, transparent, and child-centred manner. [65652/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 397, 399 and 401 together.
Over 2,700 new special education places were provided for the 2025/26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. We will build on this figure next year by providing at least 3,000 new places, placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand.
In addition, 16 new special schools have been established in recent years. Special school capacity has also been expanded across a number of special schools nationwide. These schools are supported by my department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The NCSE will have a clear picture of local demand for special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process which closed on 1 October.
This new timeline was publicised widely and communicated with schools and special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies. The NCSE also undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process. The NCSE report a very significant level of engagement and contact from families before 1 October.
The earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school, transitioning to post-primary specialist places or those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time.
This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. This earlier date in October coincides with when schools begin enrolment processes so affords parents the opportunity to enrol in existing classes. Many mainstream schools, particularly at post-primary level commence admissions processes for the following school year on 1 October annually.
The NCSE is also working on sanctioning the majority of new special classes for the 2026/27 school year by 31 December 2025. This is four months earlier than last year and will bring clarity and certainty for both parents and schools as to where classes will be located.
It will also afford greater lead in times for schools that require repurposing or major building works to get works complete and allow schools to recruit staff and undertake the training needed so that children are fully supported in these placements.
Once the NCSE has fully collated and assessed the information received from the parents notify process, it will engage with schools across the country to open new special classes.
The NCSE will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.
The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming to them through the parents notify process are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
With any date for applications for supports, it is important that those who come forward after that date are assured that they are not forgotten or excluded from the system. I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to them after 1 October in their existing placement with appropriate supports, as was the case this year after the February deadline passed. However, it is important for planning purposes that an earlier timeframe is worked to in which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.
For the 2025/26 school year the NCSE advise that a small number of special class places remain in every county in the country for those still seeking placement. While these places may not be in a preferred school, vacancies do exist.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
396. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that the decision of the NCSE to introduce a significantly earlier closing date of 1 October for the submission of parental notifications and supporting reports has been implemented in a fair and reasonable manner; and the measures her Department is taking to ensure that families who were unable to secure assessment reports within this abridged window are not unfairly penalised, in particular families that submitted their notifications and reports before the end of October. [65647/25]
View answer398. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if transitional arrangements were put in place for the first year of the revised NCSE application timeline; the considerations taken to ensure families were not disadvantaged by the abrupt change; and whether she will instruct the NCSE to reconsider applications where reports were delayed through no fault of the family. [65649/25]
View answer400. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied with the level of communication provided to families regarding the new NCSE notification deadlines, required documentation, and approved assessors’ list; and if she will commit to publishing clear, accessible guidance for future application cycles. [65651/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 396, 398 and 400 together.
Over 2,700 new special education places were provided for the 2025/26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. We will build on this figure next year by providing at least 3,000 new places, placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand.
In addition, 16 new special schools have been established in recent years. Special school capacity has also been expanded across a number of special schools nationwide. These schools are supported by my department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The NCSE will have a clear picture of local demand for special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process which closed on 1 October.
This new timeline was publicised widely and communicated with schools and special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies. The NCSE also undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process.
The earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school, transitioning to post-primary specialist places or those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time.
This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. This earlier date in October coincides with when schools begin enrolment processes so affords parents the opportunity to enrol in existing classes. Many mainstream schools, particularly at post-primary level commence admissions processes for the following school year on 1 October annually.
The NCSE is also working on sanctioning the majority of new special classes for the 2026/27 school year by 31 December 2025. This is four months earlier than last year and will bring clarity and certainty for both parents and schools as to where classes will be located.
It will also afford greater lead in times for schools that require repurposing or major building works to get works complete and allow schools to recruit staff and undertake the training needed so that children are fully supported in these placements.
Once the NCSE has fully collated and assessed the information received from the parents notify process, it will engage with schools across the country to open new special classes.
The NCSE will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.
The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming to them through the parents notify process are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
With any date for applications for supports, it is important that those who come forward after that date are assured that they are not forgotten or excluded from the system. I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to them after 1 October in their existing placement with appropriate supports, as was the case this year after the February deadline passed. However, it is important for planning purposes that an earlier timeframe is worked to in which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.
For the 2025/26 school year the NCSE advise that a small number of special class places remain in every county in the country for those still seeking placement. While these places may not be in a preferred school, vacancies do exist.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
402. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 18 November 2025, the advice she would give to a teacher who has moved schools in the past 12-months but due to their child’s illness are forced to temporarily leave work and they cannot qualify for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65675/25]
View answerThe Carer's Leave Scheme is regulated by the Carer's Leave Act 2001, as amended.
The terms and conditions of the Carer's Leave Scheme for teachers are set out in my department's Circular 54/2019. Under the terms of that Circular, a teacher may apply for Carer's Leave where he/she has satisfactorily completed one year's continuous service with the current employer. This requirement is waived where a teacher is compulsorily redeployed into a school or where a school is amalgamated provided that he/she has worked at least one full year in his/her former school prior to redeployment/amalgamation.
As this scheme is based on legislation brought by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (formerly Enterprise, Trade and Employment) it is not possible for the Department to amend the criteria.
The criteria for the payment of Carer’s Benefit/Allowance are set by the Department of Social Protection and are not set by the Department of Education and Youth. The payment of such allowances is entirely a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. In terms of the advice for this teacher, this is essentially a matter between her and her employer (the school). The teacher in question should be advised to discuss the options with her employer who will be familiar with the particular circumstances of the case and will be best placed to discuss any options open to this teacher. For example, leave such as unpaid leave might be an option subject to the limits set out in Circular 54/2019.
I hope this information is of assistance to you and I wish the family well.
403. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding is available for a school (details supplied); and when building will commence. [65677/25]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy were approved a project under the Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA) to deliver 4 mainstream classrooms. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
A school building project has four points within the design and delivery process where approval from the Department to move to the succeeding stage is mandatory.
These stages are:
Stage 1/2(a) - Developed design stage - before applying for planning permission;
Stage 2(b) - Immediately where a Notice of Intention to Grant Planning Permission/Fire Cert/Disability Access Cert issues from the Local Authority with onerous conditions as these may be the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála;
Stage 3 - Before seeking tenders for the project;
Stage 4 - Before accepting a tender/placing a contract and commencing construction.
During the assessment of this project, the Department noted that this project had proceeded to the Stage 2b (planning stage) without prior approval and included accommodation outside the agreed brief, contrary to the established guidelines. In particular, planning was sought for a new school hall and ancillary accommodation, which had not been approved by the Department.
Following a review, the Department advised the school to proceed with the project in line with the approved brief. This position has been reiterated to the school on several occasions. The next steps are for the school to progress the project strictly in accordance with the agreed brief.
404. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding is available which an association (details supplied) or its member organisations can apply for to continue its mentoring scheme for secondary schools to encourage emerging young talent and to putt on annual school musicals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65693/25]
View answerMy Department provides funding through an annual competitive Music Bursary Scheme for non-mainstream music education initiatives outside of school and school curriculum. The nature of the scheme is that it is based on certain eligibility criteria, and I understand that the organisation in question applied for funding this year but did not meet the eligibility criteria.
I can further advise the Deputy that, funding choices regarding educational materials, textbooks, and other educational products as well as services, are made by individual schools and their boards of management.
405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the tender will be released for the building of a school (details supplied) given the urgent situation facing the school and the potential deadline faced vacating their current temporary accommodation. [65761/25]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the deputy will provide a new 600 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including classrooms for children with special educational needs.
This project, which has planning permission, granted on 13th May 2024, is assigned to my Departments Design & Build delivery programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
Department officials and the external project management consultants are currently reviewing the works and site-specific requirements to ensure the tender documents are up to date and in line with my Departments’ technical guidelines documents.
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. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.
All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans during November. My department’s 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.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated on progress and next steps.
406. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of the 2026 youth affairs budget that is allocated for capital projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65770/25]
View answerAn additional €8 million in current and capital funding has been allocated to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This increased funding will allow youth services and providers to maintain and expand existing supports, enhance service delivery, and respond to emerging needs in local communities. It will also enable targeted investment in essential upgrades to youth facilities, equipment, and digital infrastructure — ensuring that services remain accessible and fit for purpose in a modern youth work environment to ensure safe, modern and inclusive spaces for young people. All capital investment in the youth sector is aligned with the National Development Plan framework and forms part of the department’s approach to long-term infrastructure planning and service development.
The Budget documentation published sets out funding for key measures and actions agreed for the coming year. As the Deputy may be aware, in line with standard practice, the final allocation of funding for the department for 2026 will be set out in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is due to be published later this year. Further details on the 2026 allocations for the department will be available after the 2026 REV process is complete.
407. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 18 November 2025, the mechanisms that will support the delivery of actions 10 and 13 of the Opportunities for Youth framework; the process that will be used to determine the acquisition of new spaces for youth work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65794/25]
View answerOpportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services is the strategic framework for the youth work sector, published in September 2024. The strategy aims to build awareness of youth services, strengthen youth services, and ensure that youth services remain accessible and of value to young people across Ireland.?The implementation of the strategy will be reported on via the Young Ireland governance structures. Both implementation, and the cooperation of all relevant actors, will be supported through a new National Youth Sector Reference Group as well as a group comprising representatives from departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector. Action 50 in the Education Plan for 2025 aims to establish these structures by the end of 2025.
My officials are drafting an implementation plan to support delivery of the actions contained in Opportunities for Youth. The plan will be published later this year, and engagement with organisations that are leading or involved in the delivery of the actions will take place in early course.
The implementation approach to actions 10 and 13 will also be informed by visits the department has carried out during 2025 to education and training boards (ETBs) and youth services across the country, during which valuable insights into youth spaces were gathered.
408. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will fulfil the commitment made by the former Minister of Education and Youth and meet with the principal of a school (details supplied) to discuss the urgent need for additional autism class provision within their school, and wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65810/25]
View answerMy department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have begun preparatory work in relation to planning for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year and beyond.
As you are aware parents were asked to notify the NCSE of their requirement for a special class for the 2026/27 school year by 1 October 2025. The NCSE is now collating and assessing the information gathered through this notification process. Once complete the NCSE will be in a position to engage with schools across the country to open new special classes.
In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
The NCSE will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will be become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.
The school referred to by the Deputy already has 3 special classes and any school willing to open further new special classes is to be commended.
I can confirm that a request to meet with this school has been received by my office and is currently under consideration.
The NCSE will assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.
409. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Oideachais agus Óige Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais agus Óige díriú chomh luath agus gur féidir ar na seomraí ranga breise buana a chur ar fáil do Scoil Gharbháin i nDún na Mainistreach, Port Láirge, ós rud é, i mí Feabhra 2025, gur gheall an Roinn go ndéanfadh foireann deartha teagmháil leis an scoil laistigh de shé seachtaine, rud nach bhfuil tarlaithe fós, agus go bhfuil brú ollmhór anois ar an scoil agus liosta feithimh ollmhór ann di, agus go bhfuil faillí á ndéanamh ar thuismitheoirí atá ag iarraidh páistí leo a chur go dtí scoil lán-Ghaelach, rud nach mbeidh líon mór atá ar an liosta feithimh a dhéanamh anois, agus gur baile seirbhíse Gaeltachta é Dún Garbhán, agus gurb í seo an t-aon bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge sa cheantar máguaird. [65865/25]
View answerIs féidir liom a dheimhniú don Leas gur chuir an scoil atá i gceist iarratas isteach ar dtús faoi Scéim Cóiríochta Scoile Breise (ASA) na roinne in 2018. De réir measúnú, bhí an suíomh srianta agus go raibh tailte breise ag teastáil chun an chóiríocht seo a sholáthar, agus tharraing údarás na scoile an t-iarratas seo siar.
Chuir an scoil iarratas isteach chun tailte breise a cheannach in 2021 agus críochnaíodh éadáil láithreán 2.765 acra in aice leis an scoil ag deireadh mhí na Bealtaine 2025.
Ag deireadh na bliana 2024, chuir an scoil i gceist iarratas athbhreithnithe ASA isteach le haghaidh cóiríochta breise chun freastal ar a riachtanais amach anseo.
Is é cur chuige na Roinne leanúint d’acmhainn an eastáit scoile reatha a uasmhéadú a oiread agus is féidir ar an gcéad dul síos agus an acmhainn bhreise riachtanach a sholáthar trí thionscadail spriocdhírithe agus tosaíochta a chur i bhfeidhm thar an tréimhse 2026 go 2030 chun freastal ar na riachtanais is práinní agus is tosaíochtaí. Díreofar go láidir ar an acmhainn scoile atá ann cheana a uasmhéadú, tionscadail tosaíochta a chur chun cinn nuair nach leor an acmhainn áitiúil ar fud scoileanna sa cheantar, agus seachadadh inacmhainne a chinntiú, a chuireann luach ar airgead ar fáil, agus a fhreastalaíonn ar riachtanais fheidhmiúla. Tá soláthar áiteanna scoile riachtanacha, lena n-áirítear do leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu, mar thosaíocht ag mo roinn.
Déanfar cinneadh maidir le hiarratas na scoile ar chóiríocht bhreise go luath i gcomhthéacs bhainistíocht fhoriomlán an chláir. Cuirfear san áireamh sa chinneadh seo riachtanais fhoriomlána na n-áiteanna scoile, lena n-áirítear riachtanais do leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu, agus mar aitheantas ar réamh-mheastacháin dhéimeagrafacha, ar acmhainn trasna scoileanna sa cheantar, agus a mhéid atá scoileanna ag tabhairt tosaíochta do riachtanais áitiúla na n-áiteanna scoile.
410. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) did not receive funding under the recently announced climate action summer works scheme; if there will be further rounds before next summer for funding to be made available to that school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65866/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in November 2025 the Minister announced the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. 297 projects were approved to proceed and involve primary, post primary and special schools, along with projects in all counties and across all categories of works. The investment in the first tranche of applications is in the region of €90m.
Given that funding is limited in any particular year it is necessary to prioritise applications. Under the new climate action summer works scheme which operates on a multi annual basis , like previous summer works schemes, applications from schools that were not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons in the first tranche of approvals will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.
Full details of the Climate Action Works Scheme including details of the first tranche of approvals can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/summer-works-scheme/.
It is anticipated that the next tranche of approvals will be announced in the latter half of 2026.
411. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 514 of 18 November 2025, if she will consider establishing additional accommodation measures for primary schools in Kildare town, to ensure that all children can receive an education in their local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65867/25]
View answerPrimary school enrolments at national level have been in decline for quite a number of years. While there are continued pressures in some areas where there is high demand with continued population growth and housing development driving the need for additional school places, previous capacity data returned by Kildare schools highlighted that 3 out of 4 primary schools in the school planning area had capacity in Junior infants and capacity across other class groups.
The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. In this context, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by factors other than demographic pressure such as duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. My department will continue to monitor all 314 school planning areas including Kildare in order to ensure schools between them in any area have sufficient capacity and that all children have a school place each September.
The status of all school building projects is publicly available and regularly updated on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie, reflecting progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition.
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 1,300 school building projects.
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. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.
All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans in November. My department’s 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.
412. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to provide a fair and accessible pathway to primary teacher registration for qualified, experienced teachers who hold Irish teaching degrees and have substantial overseas primary teaching experience; if she will consider extending to these teachers the same pre-assessment and shortfall-identification process recently introduced for teachers who qualified outside the State; if she will review the current reliance on high-cost private programmes such as Hibernia as the only realistic route for many returning teachers to gain primary registration, particularly in light of ongoing teacher shortages, including in Irish medium and rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65872/25]
View answerThe Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2025. (www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2025/10/SI.2025.0482_TC_Registration_Regulations.pdf) As set out in the Schedule to 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 to the Regulations.
The Teaching Council is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. Its role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching. This is discharged through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly qualified teaching profession, whose members meet and uphold high standards of professional competence and conduct. The department has no role in the registration of individual teachers.
As a statutory professional standards body, the Teaching Council is required by law to properly determine and to authenticate the relevant standards and qualifications of all applicants for registration. One of the ways the Council ensures and regulates standards is by ensuring that all teachers entering the profession in the Republic of Ireland have met the required standards.
The qualification requirements as set out for Route 1- Primary are that a person holds either:
• recognised Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree in Primary Education
Or
• holds both:
• A recognised initial primary teacher education qualification and
• A primary degree at Level 8 or a qualification at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications which has a credit weighting of at least 180 ECTS credits.
To assist with teacher supply challenges, in the Teaching Council’s recently revised Registration Regulations, 2025, which were effected on 16 October 2025, a mechanism has been created which provides for teachers who completed a teacher education qualification in another country, but have not completed any mandated induction or post-qualification employment period there, to apply for registration and complete Droichead (induction) here in the Republic of Ireland. Specific eligibility and qualification requirements apply to this mechanism, and it is open for applications until 30 December 2027.
The regulations for routes of registration and qualifications are a matter for the Teaching Council under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. The department determines the school sectors and settings where those routes of registrations apply, as outlined in Terms and Conditions circulars.
An appropriately accredited and recognised teaching qualification obtained in Ireland is currently eligible for registration, subject to the usual Teaching Council procedures. There is no mechanism whereby non-accredited or recoginsed domestic qualifications can be facilitated, as the transparent and equal application of published regulations, criteria and procedures in the state to all applicants for registration are important legal principles.
The institute referred to by the Deputy in this query, is a private provider offering various programmes, and the department does not have any role in the courses they deliver, or any other higher education institutions.
While it is acknowledged that acute shortages exist in some schools, and sectors, and locations, the vast majority of allocated posts are filled, the number of registered teachers has increased significantly in recent years. It should be noted that there has been an increase of 20% in teachers graduating in Ireland between 2018 and 2023 from accredited and recognised programmes, and an over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017 with 126,000 on the register this year.
413. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 6 March 2024, where the specific information requested regarding the publication of documentation demonstrating whether bank accounts, fund transfers, or other records prove that a surplus of €8.195 million from school transport was held by Bus Éireann on her behalf as of 31 December 2011 was not included; whether she accepts that the precise information sought was not supplied; whether she will now provide this information; the reason it was withheld; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65905/25]
View answer414. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 6 March 2024, if she will investigate the reason her officials did not provide the information to the minister at the time in the preparation of the response sought by this Deputy regarding whether the transaction purportedly returning the net cash surplus of €6.7 million to her in 2018 was drawn from ‘the ring-fenced bank account’ purported to exist to separate funds from school transport from its commercial business; the corrective actions that will be taken to correct the record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65906/25]
View answer415. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 6 March 2024, to give supporting documentation demonstrating whether the ring fencing in bank accounts existed or whether fund funds were co-mingled in bank accounts and used as general cash flow (liquidity) as working capital across Bus Éireann’s commercial business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65907/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 414 and 415 together.
As previously outlined, the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements form the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In this regard, the Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the scheme. Re-imbursement to Bus Éireann is on a cost recovery basis.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) carried out an examination of the provision of school transport and completed its report in August 2017 – the C&AG Special Report 98. The C&AG report referenced a surplus in the Transport Management Charge element of the costs. This amount was held by way of an uncommitted reserve by Bus Éireann to be used solely for the purposes of the School Transport Scheme. The balance on the uncommitted reserve was €8.1m at the end of December 2011 and reduced to €6.7m at the end of December 2018 when it was repaid fully to the Department.
The school transport scheme is a demand-led service based on the number of eligible children who apply to avail of transport. My Department works with Bus Éireann to analyse costs to the scheme on an on-going basis while each year the company produces an audited statement of account. This ensures that the financial information provided by Bus Éireann is in accordance with the relevant summary of accounting arrangements.
Bus Éireann provide the Department with an annual projected cost of school transport services together with a provisional spread of payments. These figures are incorporated into the Department’s annual profile of expenditure and are monitored on a monthly basis both in terms of the Department’s monthly profile of expenditure and Bus Éireann information based on actual costs versus projected costs. Expenditure headings and profiles are discussed at monthly meetings held between the Department and Bus Éireann. Where changes in projected expenditure occur, a new year-end forecast is submitted by Bus Éireann and reflected in a revised spread of payments.
Actual expenditure is finalised in the Bus Éireann annual statement of account which is independently audited by the Bus Éireann auditors in accordance with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. Balances, where they occur, are accounted for in the following year’s projected cost.
The provision of the supporting documentation requested by the Deputy is not within the Department’s possession and the information provided above still remains.
