Written Answers Nos. 386-408
388. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific priorities, with particular reference to innovation and life sciences, that his Department has identified ahead of Ireland hosting the EU Presidency from July of this year; the process by which these priorities are being determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16238/26]
View answerIn preparing for Ireland’s Presidency July, my Department’s work is guided first by the overarching ambitions set out in the Trio Programme for the Ireland–Lithuania–Greece Presidency cycle. I expect the Trio will signal a clear collective focus on ensuring a resilient, competitive and future-oriented Union capable of responding to geopolitical, economic and technological challenges.
Within this framework, Ireland’s Presidency Policy Programme will likely emphasise competitiveness as one of the core themes that will guide all Council formations during our term. This theme includes strengthening the Single Market; driving regulatory simplification; supporting strategic sectors, for example: biotechnology, medical technologies and advanced manufacturing; and enabling innovation and research across the EU. This competitiveness focus provides the strategic context for the Department’s specific priorities relating to innovation and life sciences.
A central element of Ireland’s engagement both ahead of, and during our Presidency will be stewarding a number of significant EU legislative and policy files that directly impact the life sciences sector. These include:
The Pharma Package aimed at reducing regulatory burden, addressing medicine shortages and improving access to innovative therapies.
The Critical Medicines Act which seeks to strengthen security of supply and production of essential medicines across the Union.
Revisions to the Medical Devices Regulation and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation to ensure proportionate, effective and innovation-friendly regulatory oversight.
These files are led by the Department of Health with significant input from my Department. There are a number of other relevant files:
The Biotech Acts (in two parts) – where responsibilities are shared between the Department of Health (health-related biotech) and my Department (the wider biotech ecosystem).
The REACH revision
The implementation of the EU Life Sciences Strategy – with my Department leading on enterprise and competitiveness-focused elements.
Throughout our Presidency, Ireland will of course act with impartiality. However, given our strong record in life sciences, we will also bring informed and constructive perspectives to Council negotiations. Our domestic strengths including world-leading biopharma and medtech clusters, a globally connected FDI base, internationally recognised research centres, and deep linkages between industry, academia, clinicians and regulators ensure Ireland can contribute meaningfully and credibly to shaping the EU’s future direction in life sciences innovation.
The Department’s priorities for the Presidency are being determined through a structured process aligned with the development of Ireland’s National Life Sciences Strategy which is grounded in strong cross-Government collaboration. A High-Level Interdepartmental Steering Group, chaired by my Department and including senior officials from the Departments of Health; Taoiseach; Public Expenditure; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, ensures alignment of national policy with key EU files. Beneath this sits a Working Group involving officials and agencies with operational expertise. This architecture ensures that ensuring coherence between our EU-level engagement and our long-term national ambitions.
Extensive engagement with stakeholders including industry leaders, representative bodies, research agencies, clinicians, patient-facing groups and international partners also shapes our priorities. My Department, has undertaken a public consultation, is convening thematic forums, undertaking sectoral analyses, and has initiated deep bilateral engagement with key actors. This provides real-time intelligence on emerging technologies, regulatory challenges and innovation opportunities, ensuring the Presidency’s agenda is grounded in sectoral realities.
Our engagement at EU level during and after our Presidency will also be complemented by the roadmap now being developed through the National Life Sciences Strategy. This strategy will set out a clear national vision for strengthening Ireland’s innovation, research and industrial capabilities across biopharma, medtech, advanced therapeutics, digital health, data-driven research, clinical trials, sustainability and commercialisation.
A central theme of the strategy will be Ireland’s unique collaborative strength — the ability of Government, academia, industry, the health system and regulators to work together in a coordinated, evidence-based way. This collaborative model underpins both our Presidency approach and the long-term development of the domestic ecosystem.
Ireland’s EU Presidency comes at a pivotal moment for Europe’s competitiveness and its ambition to be the world’s most attractive location for life sciences innovation. Through effective stewardship of key EU files and through the development of a National Life Sciences Strategy, we are positioning Ireland to contribute constructively to Europe’s competitiveness while strengthening our own national capabilities.
I am determined to ensure that the national strategy establishes an enduring model of engagement among Government, academia, industry and health stakeholders. This will help sustain a thriving, innovation-driven life sciences ecosystem that delivers for patients and industry alike and will ensure Ireland continues to shape EU life sciences policy long after our Presidency concludes.
389. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to list all schemes, funding programmes, capital funds, grant streams or other expenditure headings administered by his Department in 2025 and 2026 which result in allocations, awards, or spending that can be identified with a specific geographical location including county, district, town, or project site, to group these by funding stream or programme heading; to indicate, for each scheme, whether details of allocations or awards are published online; and if so, where such information may be accessed. [16549/26]
View answerMy Department administers a number of schemes and funding programmes through which allocations, awards or expenditure may be geographically identifiable. While a number of other schemes are delivered through agencies operating under the Department’s remit, the information below relates only to those schemes that are administered directly by my Department.
|
Year |
Name of scheme |
Geographic location |
Online presence |
|
2026 |
Enhanced Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme. |
The scheme is currently open and available nationwide. |
The scheme is ongoing. |
|
2025 |
ICOB Power Up Reclassification Appeals scheme |
Yes |
Grant details are required to be published on each Local Authority website. |
|
2025 |
Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme |
Two schemes were run in November 2025, one for the Bantry area in County Cork and one in County Wexford. |
Not published online. |
|
2025 |
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund |
Although it’s not a core metric, project partners awarded funding maybe identified by geographical location. |
Information can be found at the following link [Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund - DETE] (enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/innovation-research-development/disruptive-technologies-innovation-fund/)
|
390. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide the web link to his Department’s Q4 2025 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; the date on which this report was published; and if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [16567/26]
View answerDetails of payments made for goods and services valued at €20,000 or more are available on my Department’s website at the following link enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/payments-over-20k.html. This information is published quarterly in arrears. My Department's Quarter 4 2025 report relating to the purchase of goods and services over €20,000 was published on 21 January 2026.
391. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to confirm, in respect of his Department’s published quarterly reports of procurement-related payments or purchase orders over €20,000 (details supplied), where such reports are published in PDF format but originate from an Excel or similar spreadsheet file, that the underlying data was fully expanded and validated prior to conversion so that all columns including supplier names and descriptions are fully visible and readable in the published document; to clarify whether any quality assurance process is applied to ensure that data is not truncated or partially obscured in the PDF version; and where the source file exists in machine-readable format, whether his Department will make the original Excel or CSV file available alongside the PDF in the interest of transparency, accessibility and data re-use. [16584/26]
View answerI can confirm that my Department’s quarterly reports of procurement-related payments over €20,000 are published in Excel format since quarter two 2025.
As the reports originate in Excel, the data is already fully visible and validated prior to publication. Columns such as supplier names, descriptions, values, and other relevant fields are not truncated or obscured. A quality-assurance check is carried out to ensure that the relevant information is clearly displayed.
392. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on tackling the use of recommender algorithms on various online service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/26]
View answerEnhancing online safety, in particular for children and young people, is a whole of Government priority. It's essential that we ensure our citizens are not exposed to illegal, harmful or inappropriate content, while being able to safely avail of all the benefits of the online world.
Over the last number of weeks, this Department has engaged with several online safety organisations. The topic of recommender systems has been repeatedly raised as one that needs addressing, given their potential to cause significant harm to users, particularly children.
In December the Online Health Taskforce published its Report which recommended that “where existing legal frameworks prove insufficient to protect children and young people from algorithmic harms, additional regulatory measures should be developed.”
The recently updated National Digital and AI Strategy includes a commitment that we ensure our Online Safety Framework is sufficiently robust to deal with emerging challenges and risks, including by adequately resourcing regulators and progressing enhancements to the EU Online Safety Framework. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport will lead on this work stream.
In terms of the legislative measures currently in place; the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) contains provisions that specifically address recommender systems. Platforms must explain in their terms and conditions, in plain and understandable language, the main parameters their systems use to suggest content to users. They must also provide options for users to change or influence these parameters. Additionally, Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) that use recommender systems must allow users, including minors, the option to use recommender systems that do not rely on profiling.
Providers of online platforms accessible to minors are obliged to put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors, on their service. This also includes a ban on adverts based on profiling when the user is a minor. The DSA requires all VLOPs/VLOSEs to conduct a yearly assessment to identify potential systemic risks associated with the design of their recommender systems and any other relevant algorithmic system. This includes risks associated with the dissemination of illegal content, infringements on fundamental rights, negative effects on public discourse and electoral processes, gender-based violence, public health, and the protection of minors. They must then put in place effective mitigation measures to address these systemic risks.
To assist with enforcement of these obligations, the European Commission established the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT). The Centre provides technical expertise, scientific research, and foresight on emerging risks to support the Commission's exclusive supervisory and enforcement role of the systemic obligations on VLOPs/VLOSEs. This collaboration aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of algorithmic systems, thereby contributing to a safer and more trustworthy online environment for all users.
In a recent example of this Regulation being applied, on 6 February, the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act for its addictive design. This includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommender system. The DSA provides the European Commission and national Digital Services (DSCs), in Ireland's case Coimisiúin na Meán with a robust set of investigative and sanctioning powers to enforce compliance.
393. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the consideration his Department is giving to the creation of a comprehensive national Traveller employment plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16954/26]
View answer394. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration will be given to providing additional resources and support to Traveller organisations engaged in upskilling and employment creation work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16955/26]
View answer395. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will establish an awareness campaign to promote to employers, traveller inclusion in the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16956/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394 and 395 together.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment continues to engage with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) on the implementation of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II, which was launched in July 2024. Under the accompanying Action Plan, DETE has a number of recommendations for which we are responsible, in particular under Theme 5 Employment and Enterprise. The strategic outcome under this theme is for Travellers and Roma to have equal access to quality and sustainable employment; for entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities for Travellers and Roma to be supported; and for a positive and inclusive workplace culture where diversity is valued and every individual is treated with respect and dignity. Officials from this Department actively participate in the steering committee overseeing this work and are engaged in regular reporting with DCDE.
My Department also regularly engages with the Department of Social Protection, who actively work to promote and recruit for apprenticeship programmes in the labour market through the work of Intreo Employment Personal Advisors/Job Coaches. In addition, JobsIreland.ie, the online vacancy website of the department, has an information page for those interested in providing and participating on apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on JobsIreland.ie and the platform also contains a link to the Generation Apprenticeship page with all relevant information pertaining to Apprenticeships, including the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP). Apprentices with children may be eligible for the Working Family Payment if they meet its conditions. The TAIP itself is funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund under the Department of Rural and Community Development. Through engagement with the Department’s Traveller and Roma Consultative Forum, Traveller representative organisations are in regular dialogue with Intreo Employment Services staff, and promote the programme.
I welcome a number of recent initiatives in this space including:
The Traveller and Roma Inclusive Employment Employer Guide (2025) launched by The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and supported by Pavee Point and The Irish Traveller Movement. This is a guide to employers to provide a roadmap for business es to tackle systemic racism and foster inclusion, and it showcases successful initiatives including the ESB apprenticeship programme and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration placement programme.
The Civil Service Traveller and Roma Work Placement Programme which aims to promote greater participation and inclusion of individuals from these communities in the civil service. It includes a 12-month period of work placement at Clerical Officer and Executive Officer level with a participating Government Department or Office. During the placement, candidates can apply for a confined competition for a permanent position within their host Department.
Business in the Community Ireland run a dedicated programme to support Travellers in accessing and sustaining employment and offer one to one coaching, CV writing and interview preparation. The Programme also provides Traveller Culture Awareness Training for employers to help them understand barriers to employment.
This Department’s activities are focussed on developing the framework conditions under which employment opportunities can be generated and optimised. Then, by working across Government, in particular through Pathways to Work and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II, the aim is to maximise uptake across all sections of society – in particular by those who are inactive or marginalised from the labour force, including Travellers and Roma.
My Department remains committed to Irish enterprises and employment growth, and I will continue to monitor developments in the business environment and labour market.
396. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to commit to ensuring that the Traveller Graduate Network is supported in its provision of mentoring programmes, workshops and jobs fairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16957/26]
View answerThe Traveller Graduate Network (TGN) is a group of graduates, professionals and changemakers from within the community who support and encourage the development of the potential of Travellers – specifically within higher education spaces. As TGN members have already progressed through the system, there is an understanding of the challenges and barriers that may be faced by others. Therefore, the TGN aims to help tackle those barriers so that all Travellers have the support and opportunity to progress through the education system. The TGN is a peer-to-peer network which offers advice and support to members and believes that Traveller graduates are stronger together. The TGN aims to shift the narrative around the different types of education among the wider community.
The vision of the National Access Plan 2022 -2028 (NAP), supported by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority, is to ensure that the student body entering, participating and completing higher education reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. Under the NAP, the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is the main funding stream that supports the implementation of the plan. PATH is a multi-stranded strategic funding initiative supporting delivery of equity of access objectives.
PATH 3 provides funding to support the development of regional and community partnership strategies for increasing access to higher education by specified groups. Regional clusters of higher education institutions (HEIs) were invited to submit proposals under PATH 3; in response, the South Cluster of HEIs devised the SOAR Project. Under the SOAR project the TGN was established. In 2025 PATH 3 moved from pilot initiatives to sustainable multi-annual funding streams. The fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The latest National Access Plan – National Access Plan: A Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education 2022-2028 published in August 2022 is available at: www.soarforaccess.ie/about-us/.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and its agency – the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) – are responsible for the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011, which cover employees in both the public and private sectors as well as applicants for employment and training. The Acts outlaw discrimination in work-related areas such as pay, vocational training, access to employment, work experience and promotion, including on the grounds of being a Member of the Traveller Community. Cases involving harassment and victimisation at work are also covered by the Acts. The WRC also publishes codes of practice on issues like bullying, harassment, and grievance procedures, which apply to all employees, including Travellers. These codes help employers create inclusive workplaces and prevent discrimination.
My Department’s activities are focussed on developing the framework conditions under which employment opportunities can be generated and optimised. Then, by working across Government, in particular through Pathways to Work and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II, the aim is to maximise uptake across all sections of society – in particular by those who are inactive or marginalised from the labour force, including Travellers and Roma. The Government remains committed to Irish enterprises and employment growth, and I will continue to monitor developments in the business environment and labour market.
397. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the research undertaken by, or commissioned by, his Department on the four day week; to summarise the findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/26]
View answerThe Work Life Balance Act 2023 and initiatives such as the National Remote Work Strategy reflect the Government’s commitment to enable increased flexible working options to promote better work-life balance, higher female labour market participation and a more inclusive labour market, fewer emissions from commuting and achieving Ireland’s ambitious climate action goals. Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, re-affirms this commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers.
Most recently the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has commenced a statutory review of the remote working provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. The 2023 Act provides all workers with the right to request a remote working arrangement, and this right has been in effect since March 2024. The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness of the legislation in providing the entitlements, to evaluate the clarity of the legislation and to identify any unintended consequences of the legislation.
As part of this review, my Department held public consultation which closed on 9 December 2025 and a nationally representative survey of employees and employers. The final report of this review will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 also provides parents and carers with the right to request flexible working arrangements such as adjusted working patterns and reduced hours. These provisions are under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and are being reviewed by that Department. I understand that this review will also include further research on what additional flexibilities could be introduced for parents and carers.
The above illustrate the importance of monitoring and evaluating the impacts of new ways of working- including the legislation underpinning them- to ensure that their benefits are fully realised.
In this context, I note the growing interest in the potential impacts of reduced working time, including the concept of a four-day working week. This discussion was impacted by work in Ireland on a four-day workweek research project and pilot undertaken by Four-Day Week Ireland, UCD and Boston College in November 2022.
The Irish pilot saw a four-day working week being piloted in 12 businesses in Ireland, for a period of 6 months during 2022, with most participating firms opting for a model based on employees working four days while continuing to receive 100% of full time pay for 100% productivity. I note the reported benefits of the four-day workweek as recorded during this trial, such as improved productivity, revenue and staff retention for some participating businesses, alongside improved work-life balance and reduced stress for employees. I note that reported benefits were particularly marked for female employees.
While these pilots have been limited to a relatively small number of companies over a relatively short period of time, this research makes a significant contribution to an important debate and growing evidence base around reduced working time initiative.
The deputy refers to research carried out by the Government on this topic. With support from my Department, a research project was to be initiated in 2023 in collaboration with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. Unfortunately, this project did not go ahead at the time, due to resource constraints.
However, I welcome any future research into the potential costs and benefits of reduced working time in Ireland and internationally which could deepen our understanding of this topic.
I would also like to highlight two further significant pieces of research into new ways working being undertaken with Government support.
Firstly, my Department is co-funding to the Working in Ireland Survey which is being undertaken by University College Dublin. The survey aims to interview several thousand persons across Ireland about their experiences of working life. The survey investigates a variety of employment quality factors across the entire island of Ireland, including work-life balance. I understand that the fieldwork has been completed and that we can expect research output in the coming months.
In addition, the Department of Taoiseach has requested that the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertake research into the evolution and impact of remote and hybrid working in Ireland. A working group has been established to oversee the research, which is expected be completed by mid-2026.
I think these pieces of research will be a useful input into ongoing debates which will help inform the direction of policy over the next few years.
398. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will include the loss of livestock in the flood compensation scheme as farmers/farm families are small businesses and cannot sustain such a loss from flooding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/26]
View answerThe Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has activated the Enhanced Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme (EEHFS) for small businesses and voluntary, community and sports organisations, which were affected by flood-damage due to Storm Chandra and the subsequent heavy rainfall from the 26th of January to early February.
This Scheme is for small businesses of up to 50 employees (or wholetime equivalents), and community, voluntary and sports organisations, that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance. The EEHFS provides a contribution towards the cost of returning a business premises to its pre-flood condition. Funding may be used to replace damaged flooring, fixtures, fittings and stock. The EHFS is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department.
Farmers and livestock fall outside the scope of the Enhanced Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme.
399. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has a stance on the value of early intervention classes in assisting children with additional needs to transition to school. [16421/26]
View answer429. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes nationally in 2023, 2024 and 2025. [16419/26]
View answer430. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to increase the number of early intervention classes nationally in 2026/2027. [16420/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399, 429 and 430 together.
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided.
This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
The NCSE is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children and young people with special educational needs. Where the NCSE identifies need for an early intervention class, the class is sanctioned and supports are provided by my department to ensure the school can accommodate the class. Generally, these classes are resourced at a 6:1 student/teacher ratio and two special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to each class.
Early intervention classes are available in mainstream and special school settings for children aged 3 -5 years old with a diagnosis of autism. There is also a small number dedicated to children who are deaf/hard of hearing. These classes are intended to provide early support to children before they start school and can aid their transition to junior infants.
The NCSE in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth may re-designate an early year’s class to a primary age class where there is verified demand for increased special class provision in the locality. Whilst all stakeholders are agreed on the value of early intervention, the NCSE must consider the legislative requirement for children over six to attend school.
The NCSE work closely with the department to ensure we explore all viable options in increasing such provision to meet the local need. In some areas, where students are leaving an early intervention class and have not secured suitable primary specialist provision, the NCSE may re-designate the class. This is done to ensure they can continue with their specialist educational placement at primary level.
Many of the early intervention classes sanctioned to date have been reclassified as the children enrolled reach primary level age. This allows the children to remain in the class at the school they attended for early intervention. However, this it is not always the case, and some classes continue to enrol a new cohort of children yearly.
Attached is a table that gives a breakdown of early intervention classes from 2020/21 to 2025/2026.
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.
400. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the launch date of the bus for students residing in Tyrrelstown-Mulhuddart SPA through the SSIA (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16198/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy is currently located on an interim basis in modular accommodation in Hansfield, Dublin 15, pending a move to their permanent location in Hollywoodrath in the Mulhuddart_Tyrellstown_D15 school planning area.
Following communications with the department, the patron body and school are making the necessary arrangements for the provision of bus transport for students attending the school who live in the Mulhuddart_Tyrellstown_D15 school planning area. The Department received the request and necessary information from the school and its patron body on the 24th February and this request has been approved. The bus service commenced operation on Monday 2nd March.
It is important to note that this service is outside of the Department’s normal School Transport Scheme and is focused solely on facilitating those students attending the school at its current interim location who are living in the Tyrellstown School Planning Area. This service will cease when the school is relocated to its permanent school building in Hollywoodrath.
401. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school bus route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16206/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy is currently located on an interim basis in modular accommodation in Hansfield, Dublin 15, pending a move to their permanent location in Hollywoodrath in the Mulhuddart_Tyrellstown_D15 school planning area.
Following communications with the department, the patron body and school are making the necessary arrangements for the provision of bus transport for students attending the school who live in the Mulhuddart_Tyrellstown_D15 school planning area. The Department received the request and necessary information from the school and its patron body on the 24th February and this request has been approved. The bus service commenced operation on Monday 2nd March.
It is important to note that this service is outside of the Department’s normal School Transport Scheme and is focused solely on facilitating those students attending the school at its current interim location who are living in the Tyrellstown School Planning Area. This service will cease when the school is relocated to its permanent school building in Hollywoodrath.
402. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will return the position of full-time caretaker to a school (details supplied). [16209/26]
View answerThe Ancillary Services Grant is payable to recognised primary schools and special schools in the Free Education Scheme that have not been provided with secretarial or caretaking assistance under the 1978/1979 schemes. The 1978/1979 schemes allowed for certain schools to receive the benefit of a full-time secretary or caretaker whose salary is fully funded by the Department. Where schools are already benefiting from the services of a full-time secretary and/or caretaker under the 1978/1979 schemes, they will not be entitled to receive grant assistance under the ancillary services grant scheme in respect of that service.
The ancillary grant is intended to cater for the cost of employing Secretarial and Caretaking staff. It is up to the BOM to allocate this funding as per their priorities. As per Circular 0040/2009 the capitation grant provided for general running costs and the ancillary services grant provided for Secretarial and Caretaking services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
After Fórsa accepted the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement about salaries and leave for grant-funded school secretaries, the secretaries who accepted the agreement were added to the Department of Education’s payroll from September 2023. Because of this, the ancillary-related grant funding has been updated since schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.
Since the 2023/24 school year, schools have been paid the usual ancillary grant amount, minus the amount that schools previously paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools provided the Department with these details, and this information is now being used to reduce the ancillary-related grant funding. Schools should be in no way disadvantaged by this, as the grant is reduced only by the amount they previously paid to their secretaries.
To date we have issued correspondence to schools with details of the arrangements for each interim period since September 2023.
In some situations, the salaries of ancillary staff in a particular school may have been higher than the ancillary grant due to the school, and the school may have funded this difference via other revenue streams. In situations where the salary that a school was paying their secretary was higher than the ancillary grant due to the school, prior to them being added to the Department of Education’s payroll, then the ancillary grant is reduced to NIL.
In the case of St Anne's, the caretaker was under the 1978/1979 scheme, and the school had a full-time secretary for which the school was in receipt of the reduced rate of ancillary grant of 89.50 per pupil. On retirement of the caretaker, the 1978/79 scheme has been discontinued. however, the ancillary grant for the school will be increased to the full rate of 173 per pupil.
Officials from the Department have been engaging with the school on this issue. A review of the ancillary funding to this school has been carried out. The school has been advised of the outcome of this review directly. With effect from the 28th of September 2025 which is the retirement date of the 1978/1979 Caretaker the school will be entitled to the full rate of ancillary less the salary of the secretary.
The rate of ancillary services grant has not decreased and continues to be paid based on the relevant enrolments in the school multiplied by the rates set out in?Circular 0017/2021.
Work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the ancillary-related grants for the longer term where school secretaries are being paid on the Department’s payroll. Note the reductions may change when a permanent model for ancillary-related grant reductions has been finalised.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cash-flow management. Any schools that are experiencing financial difficulty can contact the FSSU for guidance and support. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
403. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school (details supplied) seeking a permanent roll number; if the decision to refuse this can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16210/26]
View answerI refer to the Deputy's enquiry concerning an update on a school (details supplied) seeking a permanent roll number.
This school is a pilot project and is attached to a parent Community National School since 2020. The initial arrangement, which was for 3 years, was subsequently extended to 2027.
This extension has allowed for further analysis of the projected demographics in the area around the school and nearby school planning areas. Along with this, the Primary School Survey launched towards the end of 2025 should assist with this task.
While the pilot scheme is in operation it will continue to operate under the roll number of its parent school. As it is a pilot project a roll number cannot be assigned.
404. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which a school (details supplied) performed under each of the individual criteria used to prioritise school building projects included in the recent announcement of 105 school building projects; the relative ranking or position for this school under each criterion and overall compared with projects selected for inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16241/26]
View answerThe project at Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg , is devolved for delivery to Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) and is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural design process. Stage 2b comprises the finalisation of detailed design, the securing of all required statutory approvals, and the preparation of tender documentation. Full planning permission for the project has been granted.
My department have recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard there will be a strong special education dimension to project rollout.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
The department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, the department have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027.
These projects are in addition to €155.25 million in capital funding for Clare schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 28 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are also currently 7 school projects in Clare under construction.
The first tranche of 105 school building projects includes 80 large scale and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs particularly to support special education needs provision.
Firstly, to facilitate the 45 projects that are currently already at tender stage (Stage 3) so that they can progress to construction as smoothly as possible over the course of 2026 and 2027. Secondly, to facilitate 35 projects that currently have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b) and have been prioritised to meet urgent requirements from a special needs perspective or to provide additional capacity to cater for demographics or to address very significant condition issues at the schools.
The department recognises that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding.
Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
Information on the ranking or scoring of individual school building projects is not available. The 105 projects announced were selected following a holistic evaluation of need across the system, and projects were considered in line with the Department’s overall priorities, available capital funding, and the National Development Plan.
The accommodation needs at Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
405. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the application by a school (details supplied) for their inclusion in the DEIS 1 Plus programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16242/26]
View answerAddressing educational disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and to introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence this year.
The DEIS Plus scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment. It will target a cohort of schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people experiencing intergenerational disadvantage, where there is a significant gap in outcomes and there are barriers to those children and young people achieving their potential.
The details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being finalised within an overall programme of work to tackle educational disadvantage and will be outlined in the new DEIS Strategy, which will be published in the coming weeks. Future allocation of overall resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy and the availability of resources.
Schools will not be required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme. The process to identify schools for inclusion will be evidence-informed, using available data.
406. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the supports and services for victims of abuse in industrial schools will be put in place. [16253/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was passed by the Oireachtas last year.
The Act provides for the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories.
My Department is finalising arrangements for the rollout of these supports and it is expected that they will be made available to eligible survivors very shortly.
Information on the supports, including in relation to application processes, will be published on the Department’s website and will be communicated to relevant advocacy and survivor groups to ensure as many survivors as possible are made aware of the availability of the supports.
Survivors who wish to receive direct information from the Department in relation to the supports can contact survivorsupports@education.gov.ie.
407. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a campaign by parents regarding the modular project proposed for a school (details supplied); if a commitment will be provided regarding the retention of the greenspace in situ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16283/26]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that my department is aware of the concerns of the school in relation to their green space and has worked closely with the school to reach a solution in this regard.
My department is required to manage the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country to ensure that every child has access to a school place. There is a large demand for special class provision in the Lucan school planning area.
I can assure the Deputy that department officials have engaged with the school authorities in relation to this matter and will continue to do so.
408. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 17 February 2026, if she will consider correspondence from a parent (details supplied) in relation to the need for a school transport service for young people attending the school; if she is aware there are over 25 young people using a private bus service on this route at high cost to families; if a school transport route will be reconsidered for the areas outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16285/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Bus Éireann has advised that pupils residing in the Tallaght, Saggart and Citywest areas are not eligible for transport to the school referred to as there are closer Post Primary schools in the area.
Bus Éireann has also advised that there are currently no school transport services operating to this school as no eligible applicants have applied.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
With regard to ethos, the Department of Education and Youth classifies schools as being one of the following - of religious denomination, interdenominational or multi-denominational.
At Post Primary level, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest post primary school/education centre subject to limited exceptions. The scheme has regard to ethos and language in that exceptions to eligibility for the scheme are considered in the case of minority religions and the Irish language.
The scheme at Post Primary level provides transport for children of minority religion for whom there is less choice of school given the dispersed nature of these schools and also facilitates the viability of those minority religion schools.
In cases where families have applied to attend their nearest schools with regard to ethos and language, and have been advised by the school authorities that these schools are full, the Department will consider if the pupil is eligible to the next nearest school.
While the closest school(s) may be full to capacity at present, each family must supply the documents mentioned below, to School Transport Section of the Department of Education and Youth.
• an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school(s), and
• a letter from each of the school authorities confirming that the school was full.
Contact details for school transport section can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/school-transport/#school-transport-customer-contact-form.
