Thursday, 30 Apr 2026

Written Answers Nos. 268-288

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Departmental Properties

Questions (268)

George Lawlor

Question:

268. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 19 March 2025, if it has been established whether the property referred to (details supplied) has in fact been vested in the Minister under section 28 of the State Property Act 1954; the action that can be taken to secure and make safe this extensive property which is currently derelict and poses a public health threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31539/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

As a follow on from Parliamentary Question No 465 of 19th March 2025. Section 28 of the State Property Act 1954 (the Act) provides that property held by a company at the time of its dissolution becomes State property, in the name of the Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (the Minister) unless it was held on trust for another. Any property that does devolve to the Minister is subject to any incumberances or charges affecting the land. In addition any company can be restored to the Companies Register up to 20 years after the date of dissolution. If restored any property it held on dissolution will revert to the company as if it had never been dissolved. The company in this case can be restored up to 18th October 2027.

Efforts have been made to clarify what interest, if any, has devolved to the Minister. It remains a fact that the Minister’s interest is defeasible by restoration up to 18th October 2027.

Section 28 provision in the Act is primarily to ensure that property is not ownerless. The Act gives the Minister limited specific powers under Section 31 to waive his interest if he considers it appropriate in all of the circumstances. Suitable approaches for a waiver will be considered but any waiver is subject to establishing beyond doubt that the Minister has an interest to waive, and waived property remains subject to the possibility of restoration until October 2027. Any incumberances or charges on the property are not removed by the waiver process. In this as in other situations involving the property of dissolved companies, the Minister, or the OPW on his behalf, is not in occupation or control of the property.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (269, 270)

Noel McCarthy

Question:

269. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 27 May 2025, the amount expended to date on the Midleton Flood Relief Project; the currently projected overall cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31591/26]

Noel McCarthy

Question:

270. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of engineers currently working on the Middleton flood relief scheme project; the amount allocated to date by his Department to ensure the appointment of additional engineers to the scheme; if all proposed engineering positions proposed under this funding are currently filled; his plans, if any, to provide further funding for the recruitment of additional engineering personnel to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31592/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.

Cork County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW), for nine staff for flood projects across the county, is leading the delivery of the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme. Of these, four staff work exclusively on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, which includes three engineering staff and one clerk of works. Cork County Council has confirmed that all engineering positions for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme are currently filled. They work on the main flood relief scheme, advance works at Tír Cluain and also the delivery of the Individual Property Protection Scheme for Midleton and East Cork.

In addition, ARUP, engineering consultants are contracted by Cork County Council to design a viable flood relief scheme for Midleton. Approximately half of a full time engineering staff member in the OPW has been overseeing the technical development of the design of the flood relief scheme by ARUP.

Funding for this scheme is part of the Government’s commitment for the delivery of flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.

The current total project budget for the scheme is estimated to be some €55.8m which includes €5.8m approved in 2024 for the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection Scheme and estimated expenditure for the OPW funded staff on the scheme.

A revised estimate of the overall cost of the scheme is currently being developed in advance of submission of the scheme to planning which is scheduled for Q3 2026.The total expenditure to date is some €8.8m.

Question No. 270 answered with Question No. 269.

Flood Relief Schemes

Questions (271)

Noel McCarthy

Question:

271. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the proposed increase in funding limits of his Department's minor works scheme; when he expects the detail of the increased scope of the scheme to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31593/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Localised flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and a Local Authority may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. Local Authorities may apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding for flood mitigation and coastal protection works under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

This scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the Scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works, or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Since its introduction in 2009, some €70 million has been approved under the Scheme for 930 Local Authority led projects that are delivering flood mitigation and coastal protection for some 8,000 properties.

I have announced that an increase in funding supports are to be made available to Local Authorities under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, including an increase in the upper threshold of funding from €750,000 to €2,000,000. The OPW is currently finalising details of the revisions to the Scheme, and expect to advise Local Authorities of the revised criteria for the Scheme shortly.

Office of Public Works

Questions (272)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

272. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation when the 14 hectares of land set aside in Dublin Port as part of Brexit response will be released by the OPW; the reason three-quarters of the work commissioned on Brexit infrastructure was priced outside of the contract schedule of rates as outlined in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31647/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The Office of Public Works is leading a Strategic Review to assess potential consolidation of some of the State agency footprint at Dublin Port.

This review is being carried out by the Office of Public Works on behalf of Revenue, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Health/ Health Service Executive.

While the capacity at Terminal 7 has already been realised, collaboration continues between all stakeholders in relation to the potential rationalisation of further Dublin Port sites.

Once complete, the Strategic Review will be subject to approval by a steering group, known as the Brexit Infrastructure Group.

A Measured Term Maintenance Contract, in place at the time, provided the Office of Public Works with access to a main contractor for maintenance and minor construction works. As Contracting Authority, the Office of Public Works used this Measured Term Maintenance Contract for the Brexit Infrastructure works to meet urgent project deadlines.

Using the Measured Term Maintenance Contract with pre-tendered rates allowed the Office of Public Works fix prices where possible. In instances of specialist works where pre-tendered rates were not, these works were tendered at market rates.

The Department of Public Expenditure sanctioned this approach.

Office of Public Works

Questions (273)

Joe Cooney

Question:

273. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if each ticketed entry heritage site under the remit of OPW have at least one defibrillator available on site and all staff within the staff are fully trained in the use if this equipment. [31731/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The OPW recognises the need to provide a safe place to work or visit and promotes a strong safety culture. A defibrillator can play a potentially lifesaving role following sudden cardiac arrest. Therefore, defibrillators need to be accessible and in good working order at all times in the event that they are needed for an emergency situation. 

The OPW has provided defibrillators at a large number of the managed sites and offices under its direct control.  Life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for cardiac emergencies are in place at the OPW headquarters building in Trim, Co. Meath and at offices at 1GQ Dublin, Claremorris Co. Mayo, and Hebron Road Kilkenny. In addition, almost all of the main OPW National Monument Depots, Arterial Drainage Depots, and Hydrometric Section Offices have access to AEDs on site. 

The installation of defibrillators at OPW heritage sites has been done over time on a case by case basis with an emphasis on sites and locations that have significant footfall. In recent years the aim is to add AEDs to as many of the heritage sites as possible.  The OPW has already provided defibrillators at the most frequently visited heritage sites that it manages.  These sites include Dublin Castle; Kilmainham Gaol; Rock of Cashel; Charlesfort, Clonmacnoise; Botanic Gardens, Dunmore Caves and Kilkenny Castle.

Public Expenditure Policy

Questions (274)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

274. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether there is an agreed and widely used system that acts as a unique identifier for each non-Government organisation, charity, voluntary/community organisation or approved housing body to enable traceability of public funds; and if not, if plans are underway to develop such a system. [31736/26]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

As the Deputy may be aware, there is a strict control and accountability framework in place for the use of public monies including grants to non-government organisations. The objective of the framework is to ensure that all public monies are expended for the purpose of and in accordance with the laws under which they were approved. The fundamental principle is that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money, in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

All Secretaries General are Accounting Officers. In their Accounting Officer role, Secretaries General are responsible for the stewardship of public funds including grants to non-government organisations under Public Financial Procedures and Circular 13/2014 “Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds”. It is, of course, a matter for each Department and Office of Government concerned to ensure that there are appropriate oversight arrangements and structures in place to ensure that public funds granted to non-government bodies are used for the purposes agreed in each grant’s Service Level Agreement. It is the responsibility of each Accounting Officer to ensure that sufficient financial reporting mechanisms, internal controls and audit systems are in place to ensure grants to non-government organisations are properly accounted for and provide value for money.

In relation to a unique identifier, non-government organisations that meet the definition of a charity are already required to register with the Charities Regulator and those that do are given a unique registration number.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (275, 280)

Michael Cahill

Question:

275. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to investigate a proposal from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31527/26]

Michael Cahill

Question:

280. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to give favourable consideration to the proposals of an organisation (details supplied) in regard to Ireland’s short-term letting (STL) framework that is proposed to bring the industry into compliance with EU registration requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/26]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 280 together.

In April of last year, I obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. Once enacted, this Bill will provide a statutory framework for regulating the short-term letting (STL) sector, including the establishment of a national register. 

The new Housing policy, proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., and also approved by Government on 15 April 2025 proposes to generally preclude new planning permissions for STL in cities and larger towns. Further to this, on 9 February last, the Cabinet Committee on Housing proposed to apply this to towns and cities with populations over 20,000 persons at the latest census. These policies are part of a broader Government strategy to tackle the housing shortage by ensuring that as many suitable properties as possible are available for long-term rental.

This agreement provided that, following the introduction of the STL register, accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census based on the census town boundaries defined by CSO will have two years to meet planning compliance requirements, and accommodation providers based in towns with a population of more than 20,000 at the last census will need to confirm planning compliance on registration with no further lead-in period if they wish to register with Fáilte Ireland. It will still be possible to sub-let an entire principal private residence on a short-term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days. Where the 90-day threshold is exceeded, planning permission for a change of use is required. Where it can be proved that a residential property has an established use as an STL unit for at least 7 years and where no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, then planning permission for retention may be sought in line with existing established rights.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is drafting a National Planning Statement under the Planning and Development Act 2024. This will provide a clear overall policy approach both at national and local authority level to enable planning authorities to determine planning applications for short-term lets across the country.

Fáilte Ireland estimates that approximately 34,020 STL properties were advertised online in the State in October 2025 based on screen-scraped data from four major booking platforms. Up to 64% were listed as entire houses or apartments. This represents a 26% increase from an estimated 26,960 units in October 2022.

The national STL register will operate in compliance with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which comes into effect on 20 May 2026. The register will be operated by Fáilte Ireland and will commence following the enactment of the necessary legislation.

Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 227,000 jobs and generating €6 billion in 2024. I fully recognise concerns about the impact on rural tourism and local economies of reducing STL availability. The approach agreed on 9 February will balance housing supply needs with the need to protect rural and regional tourism and jobs. These concerns are being addressed through continued engagement with all stakeholders.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (276)

Carol Nolan

Question:

276. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether full-time employees of statutory regulators such as the CCPC, are considered to be civil servants either as a matter of law or for the purposes of national wage agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31702/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

Employees of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission are not considered civil servants. There is no provision in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 designating staff of the Commission as civil servants, and they are employed directly by the Commission rather than under the Civil Service Regulation Acts.

However, as employees of a non-commercial State body funded by the Exchequer, CCPC staff are appropriately classified as public servants.

National public service pay agreements, which operate in accordance with Government pay policy, are negotiated centrally on behalf of relevant civil servants and public servants. While CCPC employees are not civil servants, these pay agreements generally apply to them in their capacity as public servants, subject to the usual ratification and approval processes under Government pay control arrangements.

The CCPC operates under the aegis of my Department for these purposes.

Trade Unions

Questions (277)

Ciarán Ahern

Question:

277. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reasons an explicit requirement for employers to recognise and engage with their employees trade union is not included in the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31511/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

It has been the consistent policy of successive Irish governments to promote collective bargaining through the development of an institutional framework consistent with Ireland's voluntary system of industrial relations, premised upon freedom of contract and freedom of association. Ireland’s existing voluntary industrial relations system has proven successful in delivering stability, industrial peace and strong economic performance over decades to the benefit of both workers and employers alike.

On 5 November 2025, I launched Ireland's Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining, a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s well-established system of voluntary industrial relations, one of the first countries in the EU to prepare such a plan.  While other countries waited to see the outcome of a European Court of Justice decision on the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive, I was committed to delivering a plan whatever the court decided and I have delivered on that promise.

The Action Plan is an ambitious one, with more than 20 actions to be delivered over the lifetime of the plan, including building a research base, building capacity and skills, and other measures to support collective bargaining.

A Technical Sub-Group of LEEF, consisting of Department officials and the Social Partners are meeting regularly to progress the implementation of the Action Plan, with good engagement across a range of actions already. 

The Action Plan will be delivered on a phased basis and supported by a robust monitoring framework, including a mid-term review scheduled for 2028. This phased and responsive approach will ensure the continued relevance of the Plan in the context of evolving labour market conditions and the collective bargaining landscape.

Work Permits

Questions (278)

Barry Ward

Question:

278. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a critical skills visa application (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure that it is processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31541/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

My Department is responsible for the administration of the Employment Permits System under the Employment Permits Act 2024. Applications for employment permits, including Critical Skills Employment Permits, are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the statutory criteria set out in legislation.

I am advised that an application relating to the individual referenced was fully examined and that a decision to refuse the application has issued. The applicant was notified directly of that decision.

In this case, the application did not meet the statutory requirements for the grant of an employment permit. The refusal arose for a number of reasons, including deficiencies in the manner in which the vacancy was advertised, which did not comply with the requirements set out in Regulation 9(6) of the Employment Permits Regulations 2024. In accordance with section 23(3) of the Employment Permits Act 2024, an employment permit cannot issue where the advertising requirements have not been satisfied.

In addition, the information submitted indicated that the foreign national concerned was engaged in employment in the State without holding an employment permit or a specific permission from the Minister for Justice permitting employment without the requirement for a permit. Employment without the appropriate permit or permission constitutes an offence under the Employment Permits Act 2024. In such circumstances, sections 33(1)(j) and 33(1)(k) of the Act preclude the grant of an employment permit.

All employment permit applications are processed in line with the relevant legislative requirements, and decisions are made on the basis of the information provided at the time of application. Where an application does not meet the statutory criteria, it cannot be approved.

My Department continues to process employment permit applications as efficiently as possible, while ensuring that the integrity of the employment permits system and compliance with the legislation is maintained.

Our self-service portal provides real-time information on an employment permit application status. A dedicated mailbox for Oireachtas members is also available at [e-mail].

Employment Rights

Questions (279)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

279. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if there are any actions being taken in Ireland or at a European Union level to improve supply chain transparency and protect garment workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31547/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which must be transposed into Irish law by July 2028, provides that in-scope companies will, for the first time, have legal obligations to conduct risk-based human rights and environmental due diligence and integrate due diligence into all corporate policies and risk management systems.

In-scope companies are required to identify those parts of their chain of activities where adverse human rights or environmental impacts are most likely to occur and are most severe, and to carry out an in-depth assessment of those prioritised areas.

The Directive also requires Member States to provide for effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for companies that fail to comply with their due diligence requirements. My Department is working to ensure transposition of the CSDDD by the July 2028 deadline, with the first tranche of companies coming within scope in 2029.

I can also advise the Deputy that my Department is leading preparations for the implementation in Ireland of the EU Forced Labour Regulation, which prohibits the placing and making available on the EU market, as well as the export from the EU, of products made with forced labour. The Regulation will apply from December 2027. Last December, we signed the European Union (Prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union Market) (Designation of Competent Authorities) Regulation 2025, which designated Ireland’s National Competent Authorities as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the relevant Market Surveillance Authorities. Under this framework, the WRC will have primary responsibility for investigating suspected cases of products made with forced labour in Ireland and for issuing prohibition orders where such products are confirmed, while the relevant Market Surveillance Authorities will be responsible for enforcing those orders, including prohibition orders issued by other Member States or by the European Commission in respect of third-country imported products confirmed as having been made with forced labour.

Question No. 280 answered with Question No. 275.

Construction Industry

Questions (281)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

281. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he has considered introducing a legal requirement for contractors, including those carrying out retrofit and residential construction works, to hold insurance or financial safeguards to protect upfront payments made by homeowners in the event of insolvency or non-completion of works; the current consumer protections in place in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31734/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Deputy Niamh Smyth)

There are currently no plans to introduce a legal requirement for contractors, as noted in the deputy’s question, to hold insurance or financial safeguards to protect upfront payments made by homeowners.

However, there are currently protections for consumers who engage the services of a contractor in the context of construction, maintenance or repair of buildings as provided for under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 (the Act).

Under Section 2 of the Act a trader is defined as a person who is acting for purposes relating to the person’s trade, business, craft or profession, and includes any person acting in the name, or on behalf, of the trader. A service is defined under the same section as the provision of services including the construction, maintenance or repair of buildings.

Sections 85 to 87 inclusive of the Act, entitles the consumer to terminate the contract or receive a proportionate reduction in the price agreed for services if the trader fails to provide the services as agreed and stated in the contract.

Section 89 of the Act provides that where a consumer selects to terminate a contract under sections 84(1) or 86(2) the trader is obliged to reimburse the consumer in accordance with section 90, of the same Act, for all payments made under the service contract.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has information on their website for consumers in relation to buying services and entering into contracts.

Wage-setting Mechanisms

Questions (282)

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

282. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will provide the data relating to the number of individuals in the workforce who are paid at a below minimum wage rate; and if he will take action to eliminate the lower than minimum wage rate of pay for workers under 20 years-of-age. [31783/26]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

According to the Central Statistics Office’s Labour Force Survey, 43,200 employees reported earning less than the National Minimum Wage in 2025, accounting for 1.8 per cent of total employment.  

The National Minimum Wage Act prescribes the minimum hourly rate of pay for the majority of employees in Ireland, subject to a small number of exemptions.

Pursuant to section 5 of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000, exemptions from the statutory minimum wage are in place for statutory apprentices, certain close family members and certain activities undertaken by prisoners.

The National Minimum Wage Act also provides for sub-minimum rates for those aged under 20.

Employees aged 18 and 19 are entitled to a sub-minimum rate of 80% and 90% of the full National Minimum Wage respectively. The sub-minimum rates for employees aged under 18 are set at 70% of the National Minimum Wage.

Since the current system of youth rates is based on a percentage of the full minimum wage; when the minimum wage increases, these sub-minimum youth rates also increase, with young people in receipt of these rates seeing a commensurate increase in their wages.

Since 2020, the National Minimum Wage has increased by 40%, from €10.10 to today’s rate of €14.15 an hour.

In 2025, there was a significant uplift of 6.3%, or €0.80 in the minimum wage, and this year the minimum wage increased by €0.65, an increase of 4.8%. Both of these increases were ahead of inflation and projected wage growth and have brought about substantial and real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy.

Last year, as part of measures designed to bolster business resilience and support competitiveness, the Government made agreed to defer a decision on sub-minimum youth rates until 2029.

This decision should be considered in the context of the significant increases in the minimum wage and wider improvements in statutory employment measures.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the use of subminimum youth rates to ensure they do not undermine fair pay or progression for young workers, while also safeguarding employment opportunities as part of the scheduled review in 2029.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (283)

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

283. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide data on the cost of private sector contracts where a service was previously publicly provided from 2021 to date; and if his Department has or will conduct a study on the cost of such contracts to the public purse. [31785/26]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

The information sought by the Deputy is not held centrally by my Department in the format requested. Accordingly, additional time is required to compile the requested information. These details will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (284)

George Lawlor

Question:

284. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale underpinning the decision of the NCSE that there be no change to the SNA allocation to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31523/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

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 advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded 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.

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.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (285)

George Lawlor

Question:

285. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to provide additional special classes in the upcoming school year to schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31530/26]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

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.

My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year. 464 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, of which 11 are inclusive special classes. Further details on additional new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs.

Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.

Of the 464 new special classes, 305 are being established in primary schools and 159 in post-primary schools. New special classes are being established in every county with 21 new special classes confirmed for Wexford so far.

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.

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.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (286)

Charles Ward

Question:

286. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on an ASA scheme application for a school in Donegal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31533/26]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

The school was approved to enter my department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for a project providing 1 special education tuition room. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

A Stage 1/2a developed design report was received by my department in Q1 2026 and is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Infrastructure guidelines. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. 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, my 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.

The accommodation needs at this school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.

Education Policy

Questions (287, 288, 289)

Ciarán Ahern

Question:

287. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, if the school-level data to be released in May will include school-level data for all multi-denominational schools as well as denominational schools; whether the full percentage response from all parents, including parents of preschool children and parents of children in multi-denominational schools to the question of whether denominational education or multi-denominational education is preferred as per question 1 of the Parental Survey will be published; whether all school-level data will be published online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31534/26]

Ciarán Ahern

Question:

288. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, the reason responses from the parents of preschool children and the parents of children in multi-denominational schools were excluded from the publication of preliminary results of the Parental Survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31535/26]

Ciarán Ahern

Question:

289. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 21 April 2026, and given parents were not asked to identify whether their children attended denominational or multi-denominational schools in the survey, if her Department manually removed the responses of parents with children in multi-denominational schools (details supplied); if so, the reason the information was presented in this limited way to exclude large cohorts of families in the preliminary findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31536/26]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 288 and 289 together.

On 4 November 2025, my department published a 'Framework and action plan for delivery of increased choice for parents on education provision at primary level'. The main focus of this framework and action plan was an online, school-specific survey. The survey ran from 4 November to 16 December 2025.

Through the survey, my department is obtaining clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).

The results of the survey will help my department to plan how education at primary level is provided.

As set out in the framework and action plan, initial high-level summary results are to be published in early 2026, with a Q2 2026 timeframe for the school-level data.

In line with this commitment, I recently announced the high-level national and county summary results in respect of the preferences of parents with children currently in primary school.

My department is continuing its detailed analysis of the survey data and is preparing finalised school-specific reports. These school reports will also include the preferences of parents and guardians of children who are not yet in primary school and will be issued to all primary schools, including multi-denominational primary schools, in May. This is in line with the Q2 2026 timeframe that was previously stated by my department.

Question No. 288 answered with Question No. 287.

• Written Answers Nos. 253-267
• Written Answers Nos. 289-299