Written Answers Nos. 531-550
531. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the analysis her Department conducted on the adequacy of the current capitation grant to cover rising operating costs such as energy, insurance, procurements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3725/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years. My Department has secured €39 million in Budget 2026 towards increased capitation funding for primary, post-primary and special schools to provide additional financial support towards their running costs. This will see an increase in the standard capitation rates paid to schools of €50 per pupil for primary schools from €224 to €274 and of €20 per student for post-primary schools from €386 to €406. This will also allow for an increase of €20 in capitation rates for Urban Band One DEIS primary schools, increasing the mainstream pupil rate in these schools to €294. The increased capitation rates will also see special schools now receive the same rates of capitation, for young people aged 12 and over, as for their peers in mainstream post-primary schools. This funding will benefit schools around the country in managing their day-to-day running costs.
The increases announced in Budget 2026 are in addition to the 12% increases as part of Budget 2025. The last three Budgets have resulted in an increase in the level of capitation grant rates of 49.7% (€91) paid to primary schools and 28.5% (€90) paid to post-primary schools.
The Department used aggregate data from school accounts over recent years, to review key costs and expenditure which has helped in informing my Department’s request for increased capitation funding for schools as part of Budget 2026.
OGP frameworks are available to schools for a number of categories including facilities management, managed services, professional services, and utilities. Schools should ensure that they are availing of these available OGP procurement frameworks in order to get the best value for money for all school expenditure. The benefits arising from these frameworks include cash savings, administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering, greater purchasing expertise, improved consistency, enhanced service levels and legal certainty. Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on procurement matters- www.spu.ie.
Schools experiencing financial difficulty are encouraged to contact the Department for advice and support. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to schools, which may include an advance in capitation grant funding or other measures. Schools that have contacted the Department have been referred to the FSSU.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters.
532. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ban voluntary contributions in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3726/26]
View answerSection 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to, or for continued enrolment in a school. In instances where the department is made aware of schools' charging fees that are prohibited by section 64, the Department will follow up with the school(s) concerned. Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.
The Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families. €170 million has been allocated to provide free schoolbooks for some 940,000 children and young people enrolled in schools in the Free Education Scheme, from the start of the 2025/26 school year. This means every child in the Free Education Scheme in our country has received free schoolbooks for the first time.
The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep and ancillary related grants to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary related funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its own priorities.
The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet day-to-day running costs. The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years.
The Department has secured €39 million in Budget 2026 towards increased capitation funding for primary, post-primary and special schools to provide additional financial support towards their running costs. It is the Department’s objective that this increase will significantly impact on helping schools to manage their running costs and reduce the financial burden on families.
533. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ICT grants awarded to post-primary schools in County Kildare. [3741/26]
View answerThe Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated Implementation Plan are underpinned by €200 million in ICT Infrastructure grant funding over the lifetime of the Strategy, as committed under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP).
In total €345m has been invested in schools across the country since the implementation of the first Digital Strategy for Schools commenced in 2015 to date.
This ICT funding is being provided to schools to enable the continued embedding of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment. This is the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s NDP. The funding allocation model is provided for in the NDP, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy). The next tranche of funding some €35m, is due to issue directly to schools in January, under the grant scheme for ICT infrastructure.
Including the €35m due to issue this month, a total of €170 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy will have issued to schools through the ICT grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year it is anticipated that providing €35m this year, will enable the balance of €30million to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.
In relation to the information requested, a total of 9 tranches under the Digital Strategy ICT grant funding between 2016 and 2025 totalling some €14.9m has issued to 29 Post Primary Schools in Kildare. The attached table is a breakdown per school year of these payments.
County Kildare ICT Grant paid to all recognised Post Primary schools 2016-2025
534. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a response to correspondence will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3750/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the staff-member has been contacted and an agreed payment plan has been implemented from 29/01/2026.
535. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will work with the NCSE to help establish an autism class in a school (details supplied); the reason some schools in the area have not been required or supported to open an autism class despite clear local demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3752/26]
View answerThis 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.
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.
The NCSE have 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.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, the 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.
536. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions intended by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to ensure a sufficient number of special class placements for boys in the Clondalkin, Dublin 22 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3762/26]
View answerThis 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.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.
406 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 103 are in County Dublin, 81 at primary and 22 at post-primary level. This brings to 705 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 40 special schools in County Dublin with approximately 2,643 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year have opened in Lucan and Belmayne also.
In order to support the National Council for Special Education (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 have 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.
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.
537. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an bhféadfadh sí sonraí a thabhairt maidir le líon agus fad na n-eispéireas tumoideachais (mar shampla, tréimhsí Gaeltachta, socrúcháin scoile i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, etc.) a chuirtear ar fáil mar chuid de gach cúrsa oideachais tosaigh do mhúinteoirí bunscoile, lena n-áirítear an B.Oid agus an MGO, in institiúidí éagsúla stáit agus príobháideacha. [3774/26]
View answerIn accordance with Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education, all primary consecutive and concurrent programmes of initial teacher education provide for an immersive educational programme through the medium of Irish in a Gaeltacht setting of a minimum four weeks duration. This is known as the Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht and may be accessed in two blocks, each of which shall be at least two weeks duration. The programmes follow Na Siollabais Oifigiúla do na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do Mhic Léinn Oideachais.
The duration of school placements undertaken as part of ITE programmes is also set out in the Céim standards. It outlines that students on primary ITE B.Ed. programmes must complete a minimum of 30 weeks school placement, and that primary ITE PME students must complete a minimum of 24 weeks school placement. School placement must include a minimum of two diverse placement settings. HEIs have overall responsibility for the placement of student teachers.
The above requirements apply to all primary ITE courses accredited by the Teaching Council, in both state and private institutions.
538. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige cén mhaoirseacht a dhéantar chun a chinntiú go mbíonn toradh dearfach ar an infheistíocht shuntasach a dhéanann an rialtas sna Tréimhsí Foghlama Gaeltachta d’ábhair oidí agus cén mhaoirseacht a dhéantar chun a chinntiú go gcuireann na tréimhsí sin le cumas teanga na n-ábhar oidí. [3776/26]
View answerIn accordance with Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education, all Primary consecutive and concurrent programmes of initial teacher education, provide for an immersive educational programme through the medium of Irish in a Gaeltacht setting of a minimum four weeks duration. This is known as the Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht and may be accessed in two blocks, each of which shall be at least two weeks duration.
Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by my Department up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints.
The programmes follow Na Siollabais Oifigiúla do na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do Mhic Léinn Oideachais. The Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht forms part of the overall programme of primary ITE. The Teaching Council, through its accreditation process, requires evidence from HEIs that programme content provides opportunities for student teachers to meaningfully integrate their experience from the Tréimshe into their learning in the HEI.
539. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige céard a dhéanfaidh an Roinn Oideachais agus Óige agus, nó, an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta le dul i ngleic leis an bhfianaise ó Thuarascáil na Cigireachta (Deireadh Fómhair 2025) “nach bhfuil caighdeán foriomlán líofachta Gaeilge múinteoirí i scoileanna Béarla ard go leor chun tacú le cur chun feidhme rathúil Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile”; an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar riachtanais iontrála agus fágála na gcúrsaí oideachais tosaigh do mhúinteoirí bunscoile nó scéimeanna eile a thabhairt isteach le tacú leis an bhforbairt leanúnach ghairmiúil sa Ghaeilge do mhúinteoirí cáilithe. [3777/26]
View answerI mí na Samhna 2025, d'fhoilsigh an Roinn Oideachais agus Óige Plean Gnímh don Ghaeilge i Scoileanna Meán-Bhéarla le cur i bhfeidhm laistigh de thréimhse dhá bhliain, 2025 go 2027. Tacóidh sé le bunscoileanna agus le hiar-bhunscoileanna sonraíochtaí curaclaim atá ann cheana a chur i bhfeidhm chun eispéiris foghlama níos fearr a chur ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus chun úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú i measc leanaí agus daoine óga.
Príomhghníomh sa Phlean Gnímh is ea scileanna múinteoirí maidir le teagasc na Gaeilge a choinneáil agus a fheabhsú.
Is éard a bheidh i gceist leis sin ná:
• oibriú le hinstitiúidí ardoideachais.
• chun deiseanna nuálacha agus spreagúla a chur ar fáil do mhúinteoirí faoi oiliúint chun a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid agus a fheabhsú.
• na tacaíochtaí atá á gcur ar fáil acu don Ghaeilge in earnáil na scoile a aithint agus feasacht a mhéadú.
• iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar bhealaí chun rochtain ar chúrsaí Gaeilge a mhaoiniú do mhúinteoirí.
• iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi is fearr is féidir le cláir oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí tacú le múinteoirí faoi oiliúint chun forbairt a dhéanamh ar na scileanna agus na hinniúlachtaí Gaeilge agus oideolaíochta atá riachtanach do mhúineadh na Gaeilge mar chuid den chéad athbhreithniú eile ar Céim: Caighdeáin in Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí.
• gníomhaíochtaí chun soláthar múinteoirí Gaeilge in iar-bhunscoileanna a chinntiú, lena n-áirítear cúrsaí uasoiliúna a sholáthar agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht do roinnt múinteoirí
• feasacht agus rannpháirtíocht cheannairí scoile agus múinteoirí ar chúrsaí samhraidh agus eispéiris foghlama gairmiúla eile a mhéadú, lena n-áirítear cúrsaí tumoideachais Gaeilge.
Maidir le hoideachas tosaigh múinteoirí, leagann mo Roinn síos na híosriachtanais iontrála don Ghaeilge, don Bhéarla agus don Mhatamaitic le haghaidh iontrála ar Chláir Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí (ITE) bunscoile, nach mór do gach iarratasóir ionchasach ar chláir bhunscoile B.Oid. agus MGO (PME) a chomhlíonadh.
Faoi Alt 38 den Acht um Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta, tá cláir Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí faoi réir athbhreithnithe agus creidiúnaithe ag an gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta chun críocha clárúcháin. Rinne an Chomhairle athbhreithniú ar a beartas maidir le caighdeáin do chláir oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí, lena n-áirítear caighdeáin don Ghaeilge, agus d'fhoilsigh sí caighdeáin nuashonraithe in Céim: Caighdeáin d'Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí in 2020.
Cuirfidh an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta tús le hathbhreithniú ar Céim: Caighdeáin d'Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí go luath agus beidh sí ar an eolas faoi thorthaí Thuarascáil an Phríomhchigire maidir leis an ábhar seo, le linn an phróisis athbhreithnithe.
Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag Céim maidir le cáilíocht agus éifeachtacht oideachas múinteoirí in Éirinn a mhúnlú. Leagtar amach sna caighdeáin seo na riachtanais nach mór do gach clár Oideachais agus Scileanna a chomhlíonadh chun creidiúnú gairmiúil a fháil ón gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta, ag cinntiú go bhfuil oideachas múinteoirí comhsheasmhach, cuimsitheach agus ailínithe leis na cleachtais is fearr. Trí chaighdeáin shoiléire a bhunú maidir le dearadh clár, acmhainní agus socrúchán scoile, lena n-áirítear don Ghaeilge, cuidíonn na caighdeáin in Céim le creat láidir a chruthú a thacaíonn le forbairt oideachasóirí inniúla agus machnamhacha.
Tá sé de dhualgas ar Institiúidí Ardoideachais a chinntiú go gcomhlíonann múinteoirí faoi oiliúint na caighdeáin mar atá leagtha amach in Céim.
Ar mhaithe le tacaíocht don Ghaeilge i scoileanna a láidriú a thuilleadh, in 2025/26, tháinig méadú suntasach ar fhoireann fhaofa i Rannóg GhaelAonad Oide ó 18 duine ar iasacht ag deireadh na bliana acadúla 2024/25 go dtí 39 duine ar iasacht i Meán Fómhair 2025. Áiríodh leis sin, soláthar d'fhoireann nua a raibh sé de chúram orthu tacú le cur i bhfeidhm an Phlean Gnímh nua don Ghaeilge i Scoileanna Meán-Bhéarla. Ó foilsíodh an plean i mí na Samhna 2025, tá an fhoireann nua ag obair go sonrach chun tacaíochtaí a fhorbairt agus foghlaim ghairmiúil a sholáthar do cheannairí scoile agus do mhúinteoirí. Áirítear leis seo tacaíocht le dearcadh dearfach i leith na Gaeilge a chothú, úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú agus tacú le rochtain ag gach páiste agus duine óg ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla.
540. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an bhféadfadh sí sonraí a thabhairt maidir leis an struchtúr tacaíochta atá ann atá saindírithe ar riachtanais múinteoirí nuacháilithe atá ag feidhmiú sna scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta ó thaobh an chórais tumoideachais de. [3778/26]
View answerAithníonn mo roinn an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus tá sí tiomanta chun tacú le múinteoirí agus le ceannairí scoile, lena n-áirítear múinteoirí nuacháilithe, i suíomhanna lán-Ghaeilge.
D’fhoilsigh mo roinn Polasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ar an 6 Samhain 2025 agus cuimsítear sa pholasaí réimse gnímh chun tacú le cleachtas gairmiúil i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge.
Faoin bpolasaí sin, i dteannta le COGG, SNSO (NEPS) agus CNOS (NCSE), forbróidh agus soláthróidh Oide deiseanna foghlama gairmiúla ar ghnéithe éagsúla den oideachas lán-Ghaeilge do cheannairí scoile agus do mhúinteoirí ar fud na tíre.
Cuirfidh sé sin lena bhfuil á chur ar fáil cheana féin faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta.
Is gné ríthábhachtach í caighdeán ár ngairme múinteoireachta chun caighdeán na dtorthaí oideachais a chothú agus chun cur leo.
Breathnaíonn mo roinn ar oideachas múinteoirí mar chontanam ó oiliúint tosaigh múinteoirí go hionduchtúchán agus foghlaim ghairmiúil leanúnach ar mhaithe le múinteoirí agus ceannairí scoile.
Cuireann mo roinn caighdeán na múinteoireachta agus na foghlama chun cinn trí chláir oiliúna múinteoirí agus eispéiris foghlama gairmiúla (EFGanna) atá ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar, agus trí thacú le ceannairí scoile agus le múinteoirí. Baintear é sin amach le cláir oideachais múinteoirí, Ionaid Tacaíochta Oideachais agus Oide, an tseirbhís tacaíochta múinteoirí atá á maoiniú ag an Roinn, le haghaidh ceannairí scoile agus múinteoirí ag leibhéal na bunscoile agus ag leibhéal na hiar-bhunscoile. Cuireann Oide réimse leathan de dheiseanna foghlama gairmiúla ar fáil lena n-áirítear tacaíochtaí scoilbhunaithe, eispéiris foghlama gairmiúla i bpearsa, seimineáir ghréasáin ar líne agus réimse acmhainní chun tacú leis na EFGanna sin.
Tacaíonn Ionduchtúchán Droichead, Rannán de chuid Oide, le múinteoirí nuacháilithe i rith a bpróisis Droichead. Cuirtear gach EFG, lena n-áirítear Cnuaschruinnithe 1, 2 agus 3, ar fáil do MNCanna trí mheán na Gaeilge. Cuireann Oide tacaíocht scoile ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge chomh maith dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo leas a bhaint as.
Mar chuid de struchtúr Oide, le bunú na heagraíochta cuireadh tús le Rannán an GhaelAonaid a thacaíonn leis na riachtanais foghlama gairmiúla atá ag ceannairí scoile agus múinteoirí, lena n-áirítear MNCanna i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus i scoileanna Gaeltachta.
Forbraítear gach foghlaim ghairmiúil a sholáthraíonn Oide de réir a bprótacal um Dhearadh agus Dearbhú Cáilíochta, rud a chinntíonn go gcuirtear gach EFG i gcomhthéacs, de réir mar is cuí, chun comhthéacsanna Gaeilge a chuimsiú agus a chinntíonn go bhfuil sé ag teacht le polasaí a bhaineann leis, amhail Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta agus An Polasaí don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá ábhair foghlama gairmiúla ar fáil as Gaeilge agus as Béarla ar shuíomh Oide.
Leibhéal na Bunscoile
Ag leibhéal na bunscoile, cuireann Oide réimse EFGanna ar fáil chun tacú le múinteoirí agus le ceannairí scoile i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Cuimsíonn sé sin an méid seo a leanas:
Scileanna Tuisceana; san EFG seo, dírítear go sonrach ar theagasc straitéisí tuisceana agus ar an gcaoi chun an teagasc éifeachtach agus an fhoghlaim éifeachtach a chur chun cinn i gcomhthéacs a scoileanna féin.
Ag saibhriú na Gaeilge sna hArdranganna; san EFG seo, dírítear ar thacú le múinteoirí agus le ceannairí scoile chun cruinneas agus saibhreas a fhorbairt i dteanga a ndaltaí trí straitéisí praiticiúla a aithint agus a chur i bhfeidhm a spreagann agus a chothaíonn deiseanna nádúrtha le haghaidh úsáid na Gaeilge.
Ag spraoi le Gaeilge, Gaeilge le spraoi; san EFG seo, dírítear ar chuir chuige spraíúla chun teagasc agus foghlaim na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn sa chomhthéacs T1 agus chun Creatchuraclam na Bunscoile, an chomhairle Aistear is déanaí, agus úsáid na gcur chuige spraíúil a léiriú.
Leibhéal na hIar-bhunscoile
Ag leibhéal na hiar-bhunscoile, cuireann Oide an méid seo a leanas ar fáil:
An Tionól Teagaisc - Comhdháil do Mhúinteoirí Gaeilge – ag comhdháil bhliantúil Oide do mhúinteoirí Gaeilge bíonn ábhar saincheaptha ann do Mhúinteoirí Nuacháilithe. Sa chomhdháil mhúinteoireachta, cuirtear ceardlanna ar fáil ar féidir le múinteoirí freastal orthu agus cuirtear seastáin ar fáil chomh maith, thar ceann eagraíochtaí amhail an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta, COGG, foilsitheoirí Gaeilge agus Institiúidí Tríú Leibhéal, chun plé le múinteoirí nuacháilithe.
Intreoir do Shonraíocht Ghaeilge T1 sa tSraith Shóisearach – Acmhainn foghlama gairmiúla dar teideal Intreoir do Shonraíocht Ghaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí T1 atá á dearadh faoi láthair agus a bheidh ar fáil go luath sa Samhradh ar mhaith le múinteoirí nuacháilithe agus le múinteoirí eile nach iad atá ag filleadh ar an ngairm tar éis dóibh a bheith as láthair ar feadh tréimshe.
Bláthú Teanga í a Léamh – Cuirtear sraith EFGanna ar líne ar fáil chun tacú le múinteoirí Gaeilge nuacháilithe mar thacaíocht dá bhfoghlaim ghairmiúil, de réir na n-athruithe faoi Chiorclán 0071/2025.
Tús Maith le ... – Acmhainn atá ann chun tacú le gach múinteoir a bheith ar an eolas faoi litríocht nuashonraithe na hArdteistiméireachta faoi Chiorclán 0071/2025.
Fóram Feasa – Oibríonn Oide ar phobal cleachtais Fhóram Feasa i gcomhar le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na hÉireann (BOOE) agus COGG chun tacú le múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile maidir le foghlaim ghairmiúil atá sainiúil don ábhar.
Trasearnáil
Cuireann Oide roinnt tacaíochtaí ar fáil do mhúinteoirí agus ceannairí scoile lena n-áirítear físeáin ar dhea-chleachtas agus eiseamláirí de chleachtas i gcomhthéacsanna lán-Ghaeilge mar aon le cumarsáidí rialta a sheoltar chuig múinteoirí a chláraíonn le Fios Foghlama.Sa chumarsáid sin, tugtar eolas agus straitéisí teagaisc agus foghlama atá ábhartha do mhúinteoirí, chomh maith le hacmhainní agus smaointe le haghaidh chomhthéacs na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá EFG á dhearadh ag Oide faoi láthair ina ndírítear ar straitéisí teagaisc agus foghlama chun tacú le comhthéacs an tumoideachais agus tá sé i gceist go mbeidh sin ar fáil do scoileanna le linn théarma 3 de 2025/2026 agus arís in 2026/2027.
Gach bliain, oibríonn Oide i gcomhar le COGG agus Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál ar Chomhdháil na Múinteoirí Nuacháilithe, comhdháil ina ndírítear ar thacaíochtaí do MNCanna amháin.
Oibríonn Oide i gcomhar le Gaeloideachas ar Thionól Forbartha, an chomhdháil bhliantúil do cheannairí scoile agus do mhúinteoirí i suíomhanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Tá fáilte roimh gach ceannaire scoile agus gach múinteoir ag an gcomhdháil sin, lena n-áirítear MNCanna.
Lena chois sin, cuireann Oide tacaíocht scoile shaincheaptha ar fáil a bhaineann le polasaí Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta atá ábhartha amhail:
• Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta.
• Polasaí don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge.
• Tacaíocht do scoileanna ina bhfuil Aonad lán-Ghaeilge.
• Gaeilge mar theanga bhreise.
541. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth when schools were notified they would be opening a special class for 2026-2027; if all schools from tranche 1 have been notified as of 13 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3798/26]
View answerThis 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 NCSE have 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.
The NCSE have confirmed that all schools in tranche 1 had been notified of the sanction of their new special classes for the 2026/27 school year by 14 January 2026. The confirmation of these new special classes follows months of direct engagement by the NCSE and my Department with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools. 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, the 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.
542. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application by a school to establish a special class (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3849/26]
View answerThis 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.
The NCSE have 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.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, the 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.
543. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under her Department, in tabular form. [3869/26]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of Oireachtas enquires is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/oireachtas-enquiries/.
544. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will provide an update on the establishment of a special class in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3885/26]
View answerThis 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.
The NCSE have 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.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, the 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.
545. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when he will publish the findings of the working group set up following the publication of the "Out-of-School Education Provision Report" in 2022, to provide clarity, support and direction for alternative education organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3886/26]
View answerIn May 2022, my department announced the publication of a report on the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision. This review focused on the education provision for learners under 16 years of age who have encountered difficulties staying in mainstream education.
Arising from that review, a number of recommendations were made to inform future policy and provide a sustainable option within the education system to further serve this group of learners.
In October 2022, an implementation group was established to progress the recommendations contained in that report and to develop a standardised framework of support for young people at risk of disengaging from education.
In addition to officials from my department, membership of the group included the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals (NAPD), Children’s Rights Alliance (CRA), Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), Jigsaw, Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the National Parents Council (NPC), Department of Justice and the Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU). The group was chaired by Dr Jacinta Stewart.
The Implementation group consulted widely, taking on board the views of a range of stakeholders, agencies, and other interested parties including children and young people, parents, school leaders and practitioners from out-of-school education provision.
The implementation group has now completed its work and I expect to receive a copy of the report very shortly. It is envisaged that the report will be published over the coming months.
546. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeframe for approval of the design and scheduling of the capital works required to restore a building for double-stream mainstream use, including autism classes, at a school (details supplied). [3888/26]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that an application has been received from the school in question for accommodation under the Additional School Accommodation scheme.
The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school's existing accommodation.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of almost 1,400 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.
The NDP Implementation Plan for the Education and Youth sector and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published by my department shortly. 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.
I can assure the Deputy that my department is very cognisant of the requirement around the delivery of accommodation for the school in question and is working to advance matters as quickly as possible.
547. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3897/26]
View answerThe 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.
As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred 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.
548. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3898/26]
View answerThe 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.
As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred 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.
549. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update, including a timeline on the progress to date for the new ASD classes in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3906/26]
View answerThis 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 school to which the Deputy refers has been granted capital funding for the provision of two Special Educational Needs Classrooms (SEN), under my Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
KSN have been appointed, from my Department’s Framework, to design and tender this schools project. This is a collaborative process between the Project Manager, School Authority and the Department.
The project is currently at planning stage and the school authorities will be updated in this regard.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working closely with the Project Managers and School Authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery.
550. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update, including a timeline on the progress to date on the new ASD class for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3907/26]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers have been granted capital funding for the provision of Special Educational Needs Classrooms (SEN), under my Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
Rogerson Reddan (RR) have been appointed, from my Department’s Framework, to design and tender this schools project. This is a collaborative process between the Project Manager, School Authority and the Department.
This project has been on site since October ’25 and is earmarked to be completed in Q2 2026. A delay occurred due to ESB cables requiring a diversion but has now been resolved.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working closely with the Project Managers and School Authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery.
