Written Answers Nos. 1082-1101
1082. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the office rental costs per annum for staff in her Department and for each agency or organisation under her remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74446/25]
View answerThe renting / leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW. The OPW do not charge rent to the Department of Education for our offices as we are a category 1 client.
Details of the rent paid by the National Educational Psychological Service to the Kilkenny Education Centre is set out in the table attached.
The information in respect of state bodies under the aegis, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department. State bodies have been provided with the question and have been advised to respond directly to the Deputy.
|
YEAR |
PAYEE |
COST (NO VAT) |
|
2015 |
Kilkenny EC |
€33,000 |
|
2016 |
Kilkenny EC |
€33,000 |
|
2017 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2018 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2019 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2020 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2021 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2022 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2023 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2024 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
|
2025 |
Kilkenny EC |
€47,400 |
1083. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria and the specific budget allocation for the €3 million in enhanced school leadership to enable the creation of additional deputy principals; the timeline as to when these positions will be created; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74460/25]
View answerFunding of €3 million was made available in Budget 2026 to provide for enhanced School Leadership with additional Deputy Principals in primary and post primary schools for the 2026/27 school year.
Work is currently underway on these arrangements, and full details will be set out in the annual teacher allocation circulars which will be published in the Spring.
1084. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider centralising applications for first-year primary and post-primary school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74477/25]
View answerThe rollout of Apply to School marks a significant step towards fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a nationwide common application system.
In recent years, demographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions across the country. Duplicate applications, families choosing specific schools, and students applying from outside the local area can make it seem like schools are more full than they are. These factors can give an incomplete picture of how many places are available in schools.
In response to these challenges and a commitment in the Programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my department is working towards a nationwide common application system.
As a first step, the Apply to School pilot was introduced to simplify and improve the admissions process for post-primary schools in five pilot areas. This new system provides families, for the first time, with a single online application and introduces synchronised, streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions, issue offers, and update a central database to record accepted places. Other areas will be taken into consideration for future iterations of the pilot.
I wish to advise the Deputy that schools continue to operate in line with the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and their own Admissions Policies. Under this process, some applicants may receive more than one offer, while others may not receive an offer until later in the process. The centralised system helps identify duplicate acceptances and supports families in achieving certainty on school places earlier.
The Department will closely monitor the outcomes of the admissions process to ensure that all local children are accommodated and to identify any required solutions if necessary. The Apply to School pilot will provide early clarity and robust data to support this commitment. Learnings from the implementation of the pilot will inform the way forward for future iterations and deliver on the Programme for Government commitment.
I can assure the Deputy department officials will continue to work in consultation with stakeholders to develop an evidence-informed, tested, equitable solution for a nationwide Common Application System and to deliver this in an incremental way that ensures the admissions process safeguards the best interest of children.
1085. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth in reference to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to specify the framework or criteria will replace professional diagnostic reports in determining eligibility for special classes and special schools; how this framework will safeguard children’s well-being and evidence-based educational planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74487/25]
View answer1086. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to clarify who will be tasked with conducting the proposed “educational assessments” for special education placement; to confirm whether classroom teachers, who are not diagnostically trained, will be expected to assume this responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74488/25]
View answer1087. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, the supports, training, and resources that will be provided to ensure that any new assessment responsibilities do not exacerbate already unsustainable workload levels in schools, as highlighted in recent research on teacher burnout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74489/25]
View answer1088. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, the reason removal of diagnostic requirements was announced without consultation with teachers, unions, or parents; how her Department intends to restore trust and ensure transparency in future policymaking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74490/25]
View answer1089. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, if the designation of special classes and special schools is being altered or dismantled as part of this policy change; if not, the reason this was not made clear at the time of announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74491/25]
View answer1090. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to provide a timeline for the publication of the full framework governing access to special classes and schools, to commit to halting implementation until robust consultation with educators and stakeholders has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74492/25]
View answer1091. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, whether she accepts that diagnostic reports are not merely bureaucratic hurdles but essential tools for children’s self-understanding and for evidence-based teaching; and the way in which her Department intends to safeguard these rights under the new system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74493/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, 1089, 1090 and 1091 together.
The Department of Education and Youth is committed to an education-based, needs-led approach to accessing education services. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers, through the provision of resources such as Special Education Teachers and Special Needs Assistants. This is an estimated 25% of the total student population, or 240,000 children and young people with special educational needs, that are supported in mainstream classes.
It is important to note that since 2017 children and young people in mainstream classes have not required a diagnosis of disability to access mainstream supports from the 15,000 special education teachers in our school system. In addition, the Department has removed the requirement for any health-based information to support transitions from a primary to a post-primary special class and/or for additional SNA requirements.
Additionally, while a diagnosis is currently required to access a special class or a special school, this does not have to be linked to an AON. Department officials are working on a process to remove the need for a diagnosis to access specialist supports in our school system which would be the last remaining requirement for a diagnosis in the education system.
The Department of Education and Youth will bring forward a proposal through a memorandum for government in early 2026 to agree a process which is intended to result in the removal of the requirement for professional reports, such as Assessment of Need reports, from entry requirements for special schools and special classes and the adoption of a needs-based approach, subject to the availability of necessary resources.
There will be a comprehensive consultation process with the full range of education stakeholders and advocacy groups in respect of this proposed measure.
It is also important to note that the Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005 and is under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Assessment Officers working under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need. The Assessment Officer coordinates and completes the Assessment Report and a determination is made as to whether or not a child or young person meets the definition of disability contained in the Act.
Following on from a court ruling in October 2021 there is a legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s Assessment of Need Process (AON). In that regard, the NCSE nominates an appropriate person, a qualified teacher in the case of an AON pertaining to a school-going child, to assist the HSE by completing a Report of Education Need (RoEN) using information available or known to the teacher or school. This process was trialled and implemented in the 2024/2025 school year and was further refined in the 2025/2026 school year. The process is outlined in Circular 0069/2025 and will remain in place.
For clarity, there is no change to the AON process as it applies in schools.
The Department will continue to monitor and respond to future needs. As part of budget 2026, investment in special education has increased to €3 billion and allows for the recruitment of an additional 860 special education teachers, 1,717 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and the provision of an additional 3,000 places in special schools and special classes as well as the roll out of the new Educational Therapy Service.
This expansion reflects the Government’s commitment to inclusive education and ensuring every child with special educational needs receives the support they deserve.
1092. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently examine a matter (details supplied) in respect of pension entitlements for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74501/25]
View answerSchool secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of weeks under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a number of claims including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.
The matter has now been referred to the Labour Court, and a hearing will take place on 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.
1093. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74506/25]
View answer1094. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details of the delays in progressing a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74507/25]
View answer1095. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the protest led by the school community in a school (details supplied) in relation to the delay in progressing a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74508/25]
View answer1096. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the reporting in relation to the delay of progressing a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74509/25]
View answer1097. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will meet with the principal in a primary school (details supplied) in relation to the delay progressing a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74510/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1093, 1094, 1095, 1096 and 1097 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs.
The project currently has planning permission and is being brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of the department’s project manager.
The process of appointing the Design Team from the department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and following their due diligence review, the design team are currently completing Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3 tender stage. The period of time it takes to progress through each of the stages varies from project to project depending on its size and complexity and can often take longer than indicated.
In July 2025, 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's National Development Plan (NDP) Implementation Plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published shortly and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP sectoral investment plan will optimise outputs from the Department's 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 Department will continue to liaise with the school’s patron body in relation to the school’s interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent school building and provide updates on progress and next steps.
1098. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis for the 1 October 2025 deadline for applications requiring a letter of eligibility from the National Council for Special Education for enrolment in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74514/25]
View answer1099. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider waiving or extending the 1 October 2025 deadline in exceptional circumstances for applications requiring a letter of eligibility from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for enrolment in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74515/25]
View answer1100. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to engage with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to support parents who have missed the 1 October 2025 deadline for applications requiring a letter of eligibility from the NCSE for enrolment in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74516/25]
View answer1101. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to engage with the NCSE to ensure the issuance of eligibility letters to parents who are waiting for them in order to progress their applications to special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74517/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1098, 1099, 1100 and 1101 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.
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. This notification process provides the NCSE with critical information on children who continue to need a special class as they progress to post-primary level as well as details on students who require a place for the first time.
This year to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process. 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 new timeline affords 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.
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.
I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children and young people made known to them after 1 October in their existing placement with appropriate supports. However, it is critical that the NCSE has as much local information as possible, as early as possible, to effectively plan what new provision.
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.
