Written Answers Nos. 1062-1081
1062. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the calculation of the total pension contribution using the 18.4% calculation methodology for a school secretary should they be admitted to the single public service pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74329/25]
View answerMy Department has been engaging in a process facilitated by the WRC in an attempt to resolve the issue of pension entitlement for school secretaries and caretakers. The matter has now been referred to the Labour Court, and a hearing date has been set for 12th January 2026. The parties remain in process, and my Department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter. As with any industrial relations process, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
1063. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 16 July 2025, if she will provide a copy of all of the undertaken review correspondence with the HSE and the outcome therefrom (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74330/25]
View answerIssues concerning public health including those raised by the Deputy, are matters for the HSE Public Health. My Department may communicate as required to the education sector regarding public health information and advice on public health matters as recommended by the HSE Public Health.
On November 6 2025, the HSE reiterated advice from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, regarding risks associated with avian influenza. My department did not receive a recommendation from the HSE that specific guidance should be communicated to schools at that time. However schools are advised at all times to follow the advice and guidance of the HSE in relation to all public health matters including on this issue.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage with the HSE and will raise the question of whether specific advice on this matter should be communicated directly to schools.
1064. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parent notifications submitted by families in the Dublin 1 area in 2025. [74338/25]
View answer1065. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters granted on foot of a parent notification submitted by families in the Dublin 1 area in 2025. [74339/25]
View answer1066. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parent notifications submitted by families in the Dublin 7 area in 2025. [74340/25]
View answer1067. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters granted on foot of a parent notification submitted by families in the Dublin 7 area in 2025. [74341/25]
View answer1068. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parent notifications submitted by families in the Dublin 3 area in 2025. [74342/25]
View answer1069. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters granted on foot of a parent notification submitted by families in the Dublin 3 area in 2025. [74343/25]
View answer1070. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parent notifications submitted by families in the Dublin 9 area in 2025. [74344/25]
View answer1071. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters granted on foot of a parent notification submitted by families in the Dublin 9 area in 2025. [74345/25]
View answer1072. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parent notifications submitted by families in the Dublin 11 area in 2025. [74346/25]
View answer1073. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters granted on foot of a parent notification submitted by families in the Dublin 11 area in 2025. [74347/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1072 and 1073 together.
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
The NCSE undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the process and consequently report a significant level of engagement and contact from families before the 1 October closing date. The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming to them through the Parent’s Notify process are already enrolled in school supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
I am happy to advise that the NCSE are this week formally sanctioning 168 (105 primary and 63 post-primary) new special classes in 159 schools across the country for the next school year 2026/2027. This is the first tranche of new special classes being sanctioned and is a number of months ahead of last year. The NCSE expect to continue to sanction further new special classes over the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of these classes will provide clarity for parents and allow schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas email address.
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.
1074. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the rollout of pilot school bus schemes; her plans for expanding the schemes that are envisaged for the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74355/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The scheme has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the numbers of children and young people using the service have grown from under 120,000 pupils in 2018 to over 180,000 pupils in 2025, which equates to an increase of close to 50%.
Additional funding is being allocated to school transport services in 2026. This is to provide for the additional demand for pupils with special educational needs on school transport services and increased bus contractor running costs. It will also provide for additional funding on the School Transport Scheme fleet.
Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. The school transport fleet is made up of both contractors and Bus Éireann vehicles. Over 90% of services are provided by contractors operating on the School Transport Scheme. The school transport scheme is a demand led scheme based on the number of children who apply.
As part of the recommendations of the School Transport Review, fourteen School Transport pilots began in the 2024/2025 school year. I'm pleased to advise that these pilots are continuing in the current school year.
It was outlined at the time of the review’s publication that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria will likely increase demand for the scheme. On this basis, it would be prudent to implement the proposed changes on a phased basis to ensure its rollout is as smooth as possible.
In line with the review’s recommendations, the School Transport Section of my Department engaged with Bus Éireann to identify where more pilots could be successfully delivered for the current school year.
Eleven further pilots have been selected for the current school year. The Department has given approval to Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out fully.
As part of these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils is reduced to 2km for primary and post primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school is removed. Some of these pilots are operational and the remainder are going through procurement.
In the coming months, e-Ticketing will be introduced on all dedicated school transport pilot routes, with families being advised on how pupils should use their the new school transport cards. E-ticketing should enhance students’ experiences on school transport and should allow for greater visibility on seat usage. With better data, this should inform future route planning and should maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. These pilots will provide valuable insights on the impact increased demand will have on the scheme.
Provision of additional services as pilot projects will be subject to the availability of vehicles and drivers in each area. Implementation of the review recommendations will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.
1075. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provisions being made for pitches and other sports facilities in the construction of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74357/25]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently being delivered as part of my Departments Adapt 4 programme - Programme Innovate.
The proposed development is for a new 750 pupil post primary school including 4 classrooms for pupils with special educational needs at the department owned site in Gorey. The site is to be master planned as an educational campus to incorporate for a future separate “School Entity”, and all associated site works.
I can confirm that my Department has engaged with the relevant school authorities in relation to the Brief Formulation Report (BFR) and Schedule of Accommodation (SOA) for this project.
The schedule of accommodation for the new post primary school will provide a PE Hall and Fitness Suite, 5 hard play court areas, soft play areas external to the SEN base classrooms and a sensory garden. The external areas within the schedule of accommodation for this project includes site works necessary to provide suitable car-parking, set down area and play areas.
The project is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning where the Integrated Project Team (IPT) assess the site and guided by the BFR and SOA, prepare design options that meet the overall brief and department technical and school design guidance documents.
1076. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth when schools will be able to apply for DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74374/25]
View answer1077. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider giving DEIS status to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74375/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1076 and 1077 together.
The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to all schools, such free hot school meals at primary schools and free schoolbooks. Schools also have access other universal supports such as wellbeing supports for students through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), additional teaching hours under the English as an Additional Language (EAL) scheme and advisory support from the Department’s Inspectorate.
Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence this year.
The new DEIS Strategy will include a focus on developing more innovative approaches to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time. This will involve a more dynamic resource allocation model where levels of resources more accurately follow the levels of need identified by objective data.
Schools that were included in the most recent expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools.
Any future expansion of the DEIS programme, and overall allocation of resources, will be determined within the context of the new DEIS Strategy, which will be published in Q1 of this year.
1078. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to list the locations/routes of the additional 11 school transport projects that her Department, in collaboration with Bus Éireann, approved following the assessment made after the closing date for payment for the 2025-2026 school year where dedicated school transport/pilots may be successfully delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74380/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
A phased implementation of the School Transport 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 fourteen pilot projects took place in the 2024/2025 school year and will continue for the current school year.
Following the closing date for payment for the 2025/2026 school year the Department, in collaboration with Bus Éireann, assessed where dedicated school transport/pilots may be successfully delivered, and a further eleven pilots were approved. The Department has asked Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity may be available for concessionary pupils who paid on time and would become eligible if the revised school transport scheme criteria was rolled out in full.? Some of these pilots are operational and the remainder are going through procurement.
Due to ongoing challenges in the wider transport sector, including availability of drivers and vehicles, any expansion of services must be carefully planned and phased. While pilot projects are being considered in select areas to test revised eligibility criteria, these pilots are limited in scope and capacity.
All pilots – including those which commenced in the 2024/2025 school year – are being monitored and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.?
A full list of all pilot routes is attached.
|
County |
Area/Route |
Primary/PP |
Are they eligible under new criteria Y/N |
|
|
Limerick |
Shannon to Limerick |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Westmeath |
Roscommon to Athlone |
PP & PR |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Glenville, Cork |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Ballinhassig, Cork |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Dublin hill C271 |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Kilcreddan, Cork, |
PR |
yes |
|
|
Dublin |
Swords to GC Ghlor na Mara, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Kilkenny |
Gowran, Kilkenny |
PP |
yes |
new procurement competition pending |
|
Galway |
Mountbellew, Galway |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Galway |
Athenry, Galway |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Kildare |
Clane/Prosperous area, Kildare |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Wexford |
Blackwater, Wexford (to Wexford PPC) |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Wexford |
Gorey, Wexford |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Monaghan |
Clontibret, Monaghan |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Kildare |
Caragh NS |
PR |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Rahan NS |
PR |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Whitechurch C249 |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Cork |
Bantry to Schull |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Kilkenny |
Knockmoylan D227 |
PR |
yes |
Route under consideration |
|
Mullingar |
Rochfortbridge |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Meath |
Nobber, Grangeeth |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Meath |
Clonee to Kilbride |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Carlow |
D24 Palatine/Killerig Cross, Friarstown/Bennekerry |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Wexford |
D1140/D21140 |
PP |
yes |
|
|
Louth |
A1647 |
PP |
yes |
|
1079. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the entire northwest of Ireland, Sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Roscommon, Leitrim and Cavan was excluded from the NCSE recruitment drive for senior and staff grade occupational therapists and speech and language therapists for the national educational therapy service (ETS) in special schools; if the decision will be reviewed to include them to ensure children living in those counties are not disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74415/25]
View answerThe Education Therapy Service (ETS) has been established, in line with the programme for government, as a critical and important support for children and young people in their school environment. The ETS is an additional support for children with special education needs. It is to supplement and not replace existing children’s health and disability services.
The recruitment campaign, as referenced, for therapists to the new ETS will initially see 90 occupational therapists and speech and language therapists consisting of staff and senior grades join their therapy team.
In line with the phased approach for implementation, the current recruitment campaign has included the following counties, Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford & Wicklow. This ensures that supports are provided to schools aligning with the current National Council for Special Education (NCSE) regional structure for therapy.
As this is a national service it will grow and expand to include all schools. It is envisioned that there will be rolling recruitment campaign commencing in 2026 covering all counties to meet the therapy needs of the children in the school system. It is envisioned that further recruitment campaigns will also include additional therapy grades including therapy managers, clinical specialists and therapy assistants.
In addition, the NCSE have been developing an education -based therapy support service known as the previously as the Education Therapy Supports Service (ETSS), which will now be subsumed into the ETS. This service provides two strands of support to all schools: Sustained In-School Therapy and Regional Therapy Supports.
Sustained in-school support (SIT) is provided to schools for a defined period of 18-24 months in line with the School Inclusion Model. 22 schools in the Eastern region and 28 schools in the Western region are receiving support under SIT in the 2025/2026 school year.
Regional therapy support provides Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) with follow on/implementation support by NCSE therapists. The focus of this support is to build the capacity of schools and to embed the learning from TPL into their teaching practice, through In-school coaching and co-facilitation of interventions, strategies and resources. Regional Therapy Supports are available nationally for the 2025/2026 school year.
My Department and the National Council for Special Education (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.
1080. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the service plans for children with special needs from cradle to grave in Cavan and Monaghan, schools for special needs respite services, adult day service and full-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74430/25]
View answer1081. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the services currently in place are adequate for people with special needs in both Cavan and Monaghan; if Cavan and Monaghan both have their own services in each county for each age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74431/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1080 and 1081 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs. The functions of the NCSE include planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children and young people with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.
The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an education that meets their needs.
The NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.
My department recognises the importance of supporting student transitions into and from school settings while ensuring that students with more complex needs are supported optimally.
The National Strategy and Action Plan for Lifelong Guidance is about helping people to make better choices about their education, career and life choices, through information, advice and guidance counselling services. The proposals in the action plan include providing guidance delivered by appropriately trained professionals for students in special schools for the first time.
In addition, the NCSE has published transition guidelines between all stages of education that are designed to assist parents to support their children to make successful transitions.
My department has two pilot programmes to support students to make optimal transitions from school. Both pilots have been expanded and the programmes remain subject to an ongoing external evaluation.
The provision of therapy supports for children with disabilities and the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) service is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality, and the Health Service Executive (HSE), any queries in this regard should be addressed directly to that department and the HSE.
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.
