Written Answers Nos. 1203-1221
1203. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of school management in relation to significant waiting lists for a special class in a school (details supplied); the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1428/26]
View answer1204. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the provision of a third special class in a school (details supplied) that had been committed to previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1429/26]
View answer1205. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide a timeline for the provision of a third special class in a school (details supplied) that had been committed to previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1430/26]
View answer1206. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will facilitate a meeting between Department officials and the management of a school (details supplied) in relation to increase the provision of special school places in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1431/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1203 to 1206, inclusive, 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.
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 is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will also consider vacant places in existing special classes and places that will become available through the regular transition of children from primary to post-primary schools.
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.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, NCSE have due regard to the level of need in an area and the existing provision, including how many places are expected to be available through the normal movement of students from primary to post-primary or finishing school. Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes.
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.
1207. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will establish procedures within her Department so that special needs assistants, going forward, will only require to be Garda vetted on one occasion and that this vetting would be acceptable in all schools for a period of fixed duration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1437/26]
View answerThe National Vetting Bureau [Children and Vulnerable Persons] Act of 2012 provides that vetting is conducted by the National Vetting Bureau on foot of an application by a relevant organisation that is registered with it. The vetting legislation and the vetting procedures operated by the National Vetting Bureau fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice.
The DEY Circular 31/2016 advises of the statutory obligations placed on school authorities to obtain a vetting disclosure from the Bureau prior to the employment, contract, permission or placement of a person to undertake relevant work or activities with children or vulnerable persons. The relevant diocesan office or school management body continues to act as a conduit for schools for the purposes of Garda vetting of persons other than registered teachers who are employed, contracted, permitted or placed to undertake relevant work or activities by the school and in the case of ETB schools, the relevant ETB is the relevant organisation for such purposes.
My department recognises the value of the SNA role in the successful inclusion of students with special educational needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools, ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
My department, through the dedicated Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Unit, is currently working on the first Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan (the plan). The plan will include consideration of how best school communities and SNAs can work together to ensure that both are supported to provide the most effective service to students with significant care needs in our schools.
Pillar 4 of the plan sets out the strategic approach to recruitment, retention, and diversity within the SNA workforce and will introduce measures to manage current and future workforce composition, and to develop and promote a confident, competent and motivated SNA workforce. The Garda Vetting process is under consideration as part of the overall work undertaken on the plan.
Work on the plan has involved significant consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders including school management bodies, the unions, school staff, parents and children and is now in the final stages. Further information and updates will be published on the SNA Information Hub on www.gov.ie in due course.
1208. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a detailed update on a policy announcement made last year (details supplied); to provide a timeline for when guidance on this will be issued to unions and other relevant stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1460/26]
View answerIn early 2025 Minister McEntee announced two new measures to address ongoing challenges and boost teacher supply.
These measures are aimed at ensuring that newly qualified teachers can gain permanent contracts earlier and to assist eligible teachers who trained outside of Ireland to work here.
In relation to the first measure, teachers who have taken up their first contract in a viable teaching post in September 2025 will become eligible for a permanent contract in September 2026.
I am determined to address job security and to make teaching a more attractive, sustainable career. This measure which will see teachers who started teaching in September gain a permanent contract a year earlier than they would have previously, by qualifying for the award of a Contract of Indefinite Duration, where they have been re-appointed following a competitive recruitment process.
This will provide teachers with the certainty that they need, particularly for those who may be considering large financial commitments, such as those applying for mortgages.
This new measure will apply to both newly qualified teachers, and those teachers who have not yet managed to secure a permanent position, where those teachers satisfy the relevant criteria.
Officials within my Department are currently engaging with the teacher unions and the school management bodies to finalise the details of the new scheme, and these details will be published once this process has been completed.
1209. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the proposed new city vocational school for Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1464/26]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy as Kilkenny City Vocational School is devolved for delivery to Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB). It is a campus project.
The project brief is for the construction of two new multi-storey school buildings for new post primary schools for Coláiste Pobail Osraí and Kilkenny City Vocational School.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project. KCETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
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 addition, repurposing and optimisation of existing accommodation capacity across the school estate has been a key enabler of timely, local provision of special class capacity in a way that supports best practice in inclusion and integration. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral 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 2026. This NDP Implementation 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.
1210. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1533/26]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 600 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including classrooms for children with special educational needs.
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 the 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 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 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 Implementation 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 as the project progresses.
1211. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the list of schools sanctioned for special classes for 2026-2027 will be published; the assurances she can give to parents of children with additional needs who are currently awaiting news on the provision of such classes in their localities that adequate levels of provision will be available for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1554/26]
View answer1220. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the list of sanctioned special education classes will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1580/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1211 and 1220 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.
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.
I am happy to advise that the NCSE have this week formally sanctioned 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.
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 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 is required.
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.
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.
1212. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q3 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to establish an Irish medium PME programme for primary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1563/26]
View answerThe Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 6 November 2025. A key action under this policy is the establishment of an Irish-medium Professional Master of Education (PME) for primary school teachers. A Conair Lán-Ghaeilge (Irish-Medium Pathway) commenced in September 2025 on the PME (primary) in Marino Institute of Education, providing initial teacher education through the medium of Irish for primary teachers.
Two teachers have been seconded to Marino Institute of Education to support the delivery of the programme. Student bursaries of €2,000 per student have been provided through An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG). The first cohort commenced their studies on the Irish-medium pathway (Conair lán-Ghaeilge) in Marino in September 2025, and my department is monitoring the development of this new programme.
Funding is also provided, under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education, for an Irish-medium B.Ed. for primary teachers, which is delivered by Marino Institute of Education. Three cohorts – 101 students in total – have graduated from this programme since it was established in 2019.
I look forward to the benefits of this important work to the Irish-medium education sector in providing more opportunities for students to pursue their initial teacher education through the medium of Irish.
1213. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q3 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to establish a scheme to support Irish medium post primary schools in teacher sharing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1564/26]
View answerThe Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 6 November 2025. Among the areas of action outlined in the policy, ways of overcoming challenges in the area of teacher supply are being examined.
The Department of Education and Youth had previously launched a pilot scheme in 2023 to facilitate teacher sharing between post-primary schools. In this context a specific scheme was established for Irish-medium schools in the 2025/26 schoolyear to encourage them to identify and progress opportunities for teacher sharing. Two Irish-medium post-primary schools located in the Gaeltacht and two Irish-medium post-primary schools located outside of the Gaeltacht are availing of the pilot scheme in the 2025/2026 schoolyear.
This project is supporting schools to provide students with a wider range of subjects, which has been identified as a particular challenge for Irish-medium post-primary schools.
1214. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q3 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to extend the ehub to Irish medium educational settings outside of the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1565/26]
View answerThe Policy for Irish-Medium Education Outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 6 November 2025. Under this policy, my department committed to expanding the e-Hub project, which has proven very successful in Gaeltacht schools, to Irish-medium post-primary schools outside of the Gaeltacht.
The e-Hub project was established in 2019 under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and has been providing Gaeltacht students with the opportunity to access a wider range of Leaving Certificate subjects through the medium of Irish via remote learning since then. The project has been extended to include schools outside of the Gaeltacht since the start of the current school year on a pilot basis. Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry are currently available to students through the project.
Supports are provided to schools to facilitate their participation in the project, including additional teaching hours for e-Mentors and a once-off grant of €5,000 for the purchase of IT equipment.
Forty-nine students from 13 schools across the country (including four schools outside of the Gaeltacht) are participating in the e-Hub project in the 2025/2026 school year.
1215. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q4 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to run a survey to gather information on demand for Irish medium education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1566/26]
View answerThe Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 6 November 2025, accompanied by an initial action plan covering the period 2025-2027. In this action plan, my department committed to running a survey to gather information on demand for Irish-medium education.
This primary school survey, - which was launched on 4 November 2025 and closed on 16 December 2025 - , asked parents, guardians, school staff and boards of management members to indicate their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice.
The survey, – the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland –, was school specific and, through its results, aims to enable my department to assess demand and preferences for different types of primary school provision including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).
The results of the survey will help my department to plan how education at primary level is provided. The survey is not a final step. Where there is clear support from parents and guardians for change to be considered, a further process of inclusive dialogue will begin.
Initial high-level summary results (focusing on response rates) will be published in early 2026.
1216. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q4 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to establish a taskforce on models of Irish medium education provision. [1567/26]
View answerThe Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 6 November 2025. A key action under this policy is the establishment of a Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-Medium Education, which will provide a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders on this issue. The taskforce was established in November 2025 and has already met twice. It is anticipated that the taskforce will continue to meet monthly until November 2026.
It is intended that the taskforce will make recommendations to my department, setting out:
• the models needed to provide Irish-medium education at primary and post-primary level, including a discussion of the need for changes to existing models if necessary
• definitions of all models of provision, including related language-based criteria
• how inclusive, high-quality Irish-medium education can be provided within each model along the continuum
• what supports schools may need to implement the models effectively
• how to effectively assess the demand for Irish-medium education
• criteria for establishing new Irish-medium education provision through the various models identified, including consideration of the need for changes to the patronage process
• procedures to support schools in the effective transition from an English-medium to an Irish-medium model
• procedures and criteria for how schools/educational settings can transition from one model to another on the continuum, in order to increase the provision of Irish-medium education, and the supports they may need to do so
• mechanisms to be put in place to facilitate expansion of provision of Irish-medium education.
A range of organisations and stakeholders whose input will be important in agreeing recommendations in this area have nominated members to the taskforce. I am grateful to the members of the taskforce for their time and commitment in contributing to its body of work over the coming period.
I look forward to the outcome of this taskforce, and I hope that stakeholders will seize the opportunities it will provide to maintain and strengthen the future of Irish-medium education provision.
1217. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the target set for Q4 2025 in the policy for Irish medium education. [1568/26]
View answerWe have contacted Deputy Cummins's constituency office in relation to this PQ as it is incomplete, the Deputy has submitted a replacement PQ and instructed that this one be disregarded.
1218. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a funding stream for an initiative (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1573/26]
View answerFunding for education mobility schemes is generally provided through the EU Erasmus+ programme, which is managed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research and Innovation as the National Authority and its Erasmus Agencies, Léargas for schools and the Higher Education Authority for third level.
I suggest that details be sought from Léargas (info@leargas.ie) on what might be possible to assist with this request.
1219. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1574/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved a project under my Department’s Modular scheme which has delivered four mainstream classrooms and two science labs in modular units as Phase 1 of this school permanent extension. As part of this project there is also ongoing reconfiguration works inside the school to provide two special education classrooms.
As Phase 2, the school was approved for a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The project will provide seven mainstream classrooms, one music room, one design computer graphics room, one home economics room, one graphics room, two engineering/ construction studies/technology rooms with prep areas, two Special Education classrooms, two Special Education Tuition rooms, one office, one staff room and ancillary.
The project was devolved to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) for delivery.
My Department currently awaits the submission of a Stage 1 early design report for review from the appointed design team. It is now within the remit of DDLETB to progress this project accordingly.
1221. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if assistive technology can be provided for a child in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1671/26]
View answerUnder the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment. It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
I can confirm that my department received an application for assistive technology for the pupil named by the Deputy and funding was sanctioned to the school on the 6th January 2026.
