Written Answers Nos. 122-141
123. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the safeguards that are in place to prevent under-identification of such children, particularly in light of evidence that twice-exceptional children are already under-recognised within education and disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22843/26]
View answerInclusive education is at the core of the department’s policy which requires differentiated teaching approaches to cater for the varying levels of ability in the classroom, from providing additional supports to those experiencing difficulty to ensuring appropriate levels of challenge and enrichment for exceptionally able students.
Under the section in the Programme for Government to support students with additional educational needs there is a commitment to introduce a specific programme to support students with exceptional abilities.
To provide a coherent vision for provision in the short and longer term, my Department established an internal working group and is currently developing policy and best practice on a number of fronts. This includes new initiatives and pilots in a number of schools and education centres.
My Department has recently commenced engagement with the NCCA with a view to reviewing, updating and publishing the guidelines in line with current best practice at the earliest possible opportunity.
128. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the publication of the new DEIS Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22852/26]
View answerI have today announced the launch of a new DEIS Strategy to 2035, alongside the DEIS Plus scheme. This represents a comprehensive ten-year plan to address educational disadvantage and promote equity across all schools supported by a full-year investment of €48 million. Also published today is the first three-year DEIS Implementation Plan 2026-2028.
The DEIS Strategy to 2035 sets out a whole-system, evidence-based approach to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools. It recognises that disadvantage exists across the system and aims to ensure every child and young person is supported to reach their full potential.
The strategy includes:
· Expansion of HSCL supports
· Strengthened wellbeing, inclusion and community partnership supports
· Additional community link workers
· Increased capitation funding and additional supports for teacher professional learning
· A robust monitoring and evaluation framework with annual reporting
The strategy will be delivered through three phased implementation plans to 2035.
The DEIS Plus scheme will provide enhanced, targeted supports to 121 schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. In total, the measures announced will deliver over 400 additional roles, including approximately 350 teacher posts, benefiting approximately 700 schools nationwide.
The measures represent a €48 million investment, the biggest full-year investment in targeted supports to address educational disadvantage since the establishment of the DEIS programme in 2006.
The Department will continue to engage with schools, education partners and stakeholders throughout implementation. Annual progress reports will track delivery of the strategy and DEIS Plus scheme. Further information is available at gov.ie/deis.
129. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the new admissions to special school policy outlined on 9 December 2025; whether this will be in place for the 2026-2027 school year; and who will be the decision maker on admission to special school and category of school suitable for a child who has not received an AON. [22858/26]
View answerOn December 9, 2025, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, announced targeted reforms to the Assessment of Need (AON) process for children with disabilities.
The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005 and is under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Assessment Officers working under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the process which results in an Assessment of Need. The Assessment Officer coordinates and completes the Assessment Report and a determination is made as to whether or not a child or young person meets the definition of disability contained in the Act. Revisions to the AON process are a matter for the HSE in tandem with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
It is also important to note that while a diagnosis is currently required to access a special class or a special school, this does not have to be linked to an Assessment of Need.
For clarity, there is no change to the AON process as it applies in schools.
The Department continues to monitor existing practices with a view to responding to future needs. As with any new education measure or initiative, there will be a comprehensive consultation process with the full range of education stakeholders and advocacy groups in respect of any proposed changes either to the AON process as it applies to schools or to the application process for enrolment in schools.
The department favours the adoption of a needs-based approach to all aspects of school life including enrolment, and will seek to progress this, subject to the availability of necessary resources and the outcomes of a consultation process. Any proposals arising will be progressed through a memorandum for government.
131. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the number of employees that were employed in her Department at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22871/26]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth had a headcount of 2138 at 31st December 2025. The breakdown by grade is tabulated below.
|
December 2025 |
|
|
Grade |
Headcount |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
9 |
|
Principal Officer |
64 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
205 |
|
Administrative Officer |
35 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
287 |
|
Executive Officer |
534 |
|
Executive Officer ICT |
51 |
|
Clerical Officer |
434 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
37 |
|
Head Services Officer |
1 |
|
Services Officers |
10 |
|
General Operative |
1 |
|
Supervisor of Cleaners |
1 |
|
Cleaners |
13 |
|
Political Advisors |
3 |
|
Civilian Driver |
2 |
|
Manager |
5 |
|
Senior Quantity Surveyor |
5 |
|
Building Maintenance Manager |
5 |
|
Senior Architect |
13 |
|
Architect |
5 |
|
Architectural Assistant |
3 |
|
Engineers |
9 |
|
Senior Archivist |
1 |
|
Accountants |
19 |
|
Chief Inspector |
1 |
|
Deputy Chief Inspector |
2 |
|
Assistant Chief Inspector |
12 |
|
Post-Primary Senior Inspector |
25 |
|
Post-Primary Inspector |
33 |
|
Primary Divisional Inspector |
24 |
|
Primary District Inspector |
29 |
|
Senior Inspector Early Years |
5 |
|
Early Years Inspector |
14 |
|
Director of NEPS |
1 |
|
Regional Director |
11 |
|
Senior Psychologist |
52 |
|
Psychologist |
176 |
132. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of employees in each of the agencies under her Department's remit at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22893/26]
View answerThe information in respect of state bodies under the aegis, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department. State bodies have been provided with the question and have been advised to respond directly to the Deputy.
133. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding school planning for Knocknacarra County Galway; if consideration is being given to providing a new secondary school for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22915/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
Following demographic analysis there are no plans to develop a new post primary school in Knocknacarra, County Galway. However, the department is investing in post primary schools elsewhere in Galway City which are providing capacity for children and young people living in the Knocknacarra area.
Since 2020 the Department of Education and Youth has provided €254.22million in capital funding for Galway schools. Over this period, a total of 88 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 14 school projects in Galway under construction. Another 10 school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, and this summer, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Summer Works Scheme / Climate Action scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 92 special classes have been opened in Galway, 14 of which were sanctioned for September 2026.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme in these areas may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The department will continue to liaise with Galway City Council in respect of their county development plans and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
134. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth which recommendations contained in the report of the Dublin 15 Schools Task Force have already been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22938/26]
View answer135. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the report of the Dublin 15 Schools Task Force will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22939/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
To supplement the work of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in relation to forward planning, a taskforce was established in October 2024 to consider the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 region. The Dublin 15 taskforce included a number of parent and school representatives. The findings of the taskforce have been submitted to the Minister and will be published shortly.
The report makes 21 key recommendations to address the issues, and work is progressing in relation to meeting some of the key recommendations of the taskforce. These include establishment of the Education Therapy Service (ETS), additional capitation, and significant level of capital funding in the National Development Plan (NDP) for special schools.
Significant progress is being made in many of these areas, particularly with a new ETS being established, additional capitation for special schools, a number of school building projects being announced that will provide additional special education places and ongoing work to develop a common application system for admission to schools.
The NCSE and the department are working closely to secure additional special class capacity for the 2026/2027 school year in the Dublin 15 area. The NCSE at local level continues to support families seeking specialist placements.
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 achieve their full potential.
136. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 490 of 24 February 2026, if she will provide further clarification on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) which the parents association contend were not comprehensively addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22964/26]
View answerFurther to Parliamentary Question No. 490 of 24 February 2026, the stage 2(b) submission has been reviewed by Department officials and comments have issued to the Design Team. My Department is currently awaiting the Design Team's clarifications. Once the stage 2(b) submission clarifications are received my Department will review the additional information.
The next stage subject to 2(b) approval will be Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award.
Planning permission for St Annes was granted on the 25/03/2022. In the event that an extension to the current planning permission is required, my Department and the Design Team will arrange for the preparation of the necessary documentation for same when necessary.
There has been no active Summer Works Scheme (SWS) applications for St Annes over the last 10 years including the most recent Climate Action SWS.
In respect of Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) applications, since the introduction of the online Esinet system all applications submitted by the school have been approved.
Schools in 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.
The Department has referred St Anne’s Special School to the FSSU, and work is ongoing in this matter. We encourage your school to engage with the FSSU, and your school’s Patron, in order to work to rectify the financial challenges at the school.
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 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. 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. 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 mainstream capitation, for young people aged 12 and over, as for their peers in mainstream post-primary schools. These increases will take effect from September 2026. 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 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 and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant 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 funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of capitation grant is €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
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, in accordance with Circular 0060/2013. 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
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters.
137. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address concerns regarding State exam fees raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22966/26]
View answerFollowing the Government’s Budget 2026 announcement last October, examination entry fees will recommence for upcoming State examinations in 2026, at the same level as when they were last charged in 2019:
• €116 per entry for a Senior Cycle/Leaving Certificate candidate; and
• €109 per entry for a Junior Cycle candidate.
In line with the arrangements which applied when fees were last charged, candidates who hold a full medical card, or who are covered for all services on a parent or guardian’s full medical card, are exempt from examination fees. It should be noted that the rate of examination entry fees has not been increased since 2012.
I can advise that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) initially notified schools that fees would be charged for the 2026 State examinations in October 2025. A further circular was issued to schools earlier this month with details in relation to the SEC's Online Fee Service. Full details of all fee rates are available at[] https://www.examinations.ie/index.php?l=en&mc=ex&sc=ef
138. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 363 of 12 February 2026, if the required documents have been received from Tailte Éireann; and if a further timeline is available for conclusion of this long outstanding matter. [22983/26]
View answerThe Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO), acting on behalf of the Minister, has confirmed that all additional instruments required from Tailte Éireann have now been received.
I can further confirm that the lease documentation has been finalised and was issued to the legal representatives acting for the patron of Lucan Educate Together National School.
My Department remains in close contact with the CSSO to ensure the finalisation of this process without further delay.
139. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); the status of this submission; to confirm whether or not her Department has been in communication with the school in relation to this submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22998/26]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that correspondence from the school in question which was issued to the NCSE has been copied to my department. This correspondence relates to a request by the NCSE seeking the school to open a Special Education Needs class for 2026/27.
The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes. However, it is not always possible to open additional special classes in every school that expresses an interest.
In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE is prioritising working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases the number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some students are travelling to access a special class place.
This approach and other key measures to support the forward planning for special education provision for the 2026/27 school year is clearly outlined in the Department’s Circular Letter 0039/2025 which issued to all schools last May, and which followed significant engagement by the Department and the NCSE with school patron bodies and school management bodies in relation to the forward planning for new special classes.
I can confirm that the school in question has not been sanctioned a special class for 2026/27.
Also, an official from my department will make contact with the school shortly to discuss the correspondence referenced.
140. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on attempts to resolve the school secretaries' and caretakers' pensions dispute. [23004/26]
View answerSchool secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a number of claims including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.
The matter was referred to the Labour Court and a hearing took place on 12th January 2026. Both parties await the recommendation of the Court. The parties remain in process, and my department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter.
As with any industrial relations process, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
141. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason fees are being reintroduced for the 2026 State examinations, particularly given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis affecting many families; the reason parents and students are only being notified during the school year; the reason the payment window is so short, placing additional pressure on households already managing significant expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23035/26]
View answerFollowing the Government’s Budget 2026 announcement last October, examination entry fees will recommence for upcoming State examinations in 2026, at the same level as when they were last charged in 2019:
• €116 per entry for a Senior Cycle/Leaving Certificate candidate; and
• €109 per entry for a Junior Cycle candidate.
In line with the arrangements which applied when fees were last charged, candidates who hold a full medical card, or who are covered for all services on a parent or guardian’s full medical card, are exempt from examination fees. It should be noted that the rate of examination entry fees has not been increased since 2012.
I can advise that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) initially notified schools that fees would be charged for the 2026 State examinations in October 2025. This was reiterated in other circulars which issued in November, January, and February. A further circular was issued to schools earlier this month with details in relation to the SEC's Online Fee Service. Full details of all fee rates are available at https://www.examinations.ie/index.php?l=en&mc=ex&sc=ef.
Please note that the fees portal opened on 19 March. The closing date for the payment of examination fees or making an application for a medical card exemption is 30 April 2026, a period of six weeks.
