Written Answers Nos. 275-294
275. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on the progress of the Midleton flood relief scheme; the estimated timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCork 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 and in 2017 appointed engineering and environmental consultants. Midleton has proven to be one of the most complex schemes with flood risks from four sources; fluvial, tidal, groundwater and pluvial. 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 funding is provided by the OPW as part of the Government’s commitment of €1.3 billion for the delivery of flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.
The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, to protect up to 750 properties is currently estimated to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála under the Planning and Development Acts in Q2 2026 and for substantial completion in 2031.
Cork County Council is engaging with landowners, whose lands have been identified as needed for the scheme. Work is ongoing on environmental surveys and assessments which are required to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Cork County Council have completed a number of interim flood defence works in Midleton following Storm Babet in October 2023.
A part 8 planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect up to 135 properties has been published by Cork County Council and is available to the public online and at the Planning Department, Cork County Hall and at Cork County Council East Cork Municipal District Offices at Midleton Lodge and Mall House, Youghal with submissions/observations to be made before 4pm on 11th November 2025. Subject to a successful planning application construction works are planned to commence in late summer/early autumn 2026.
In October 2024, the OPW approved €5.8m in funding for Cork County Council to make Individual Property Protection available free of charge to some 725 homes and businesses in Midleton and across East Cork who were impacted by Storm Babet in October 2023. This scheme forms part of the Council’s emergency response plans for these areas. The Council is continuing to procure flood gates and civil works contractors to deliver the scale of this programme as quickly as possible.
A quarterly update to elected representatives, members of the business community and the wider community, by Cork County Council on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and Individual Property Protection Scheme is scheduled to take place on 9th October 2025.
276. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Public Appointments Service will launch an Irish-language higher executive officer in the civil service competition in quarter 4 of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52822/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Competition for Promotion to Higher Executive Officer (HEO) positions with fluency in the Irish language in the Civil Service was launched on 3 November 2023 and is currently planned to run until 30 November 2025. There were 80 applications with 5 people being panelled and assigned in locations in Dublin and Galway.
Recognising the vital role of Irish-language proficiency in delivering public services and supporting the objectives of the Official Languages Act 2021, a new competition will be considered for advertisement in 2026.
277. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the cost to date of delivering the national Government digital wallet initiative involving over 500 public servants, as part of the EU’s plan to offer digital identity to all of its citizens and residents by 2026, under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52841/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has invested a total of €2,694,327 to date in the delivery of the national Government digital wallet initiative, with projected expenditure rising to €3,099,082 by the end of 2025.
This initiative is being implemented through a phased approach, with funding allocated across multiple years to support the design, ongoing development, testing, and rollout of the digital wallet.
The implementation leverages a suite of technical building blocks to ensure the most efficient and effective use of public digital infrastructure, aligning with the EU’s ambition under the European Digital Identity Framework Regulation (eIDAS 2.0) to provide all citizens and residents with a secure digital identity by 2026.
278. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the technical review of IS 465 will be published now that the consultation on the review is closed for submissions since July 2025, in view of the fact of the urgency; if he will provide a clear timeline for the publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52850/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Standards Authority of Ireland (‘NSAI’) launched a public consultation for the draft I.S. 465 "Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials " on 31st March 2025. The consultation closed on 11th July 2025 and yielded in excess of 640 submissions.
The NSAI’s Technical Committee is currently in the process of reviewing the submissions received and is required to consider, resolve and reach consensus in relation to its findings. The resolution time is dictated not only by the volume of responses received but also by the complexity of the contents of those submissions. Once the review is complete, the final steps in the process involve editing and securing formal approval of wording for the revised I.S. 465, from the NSAI Board.
With the aim of expediting the comment resolution process, the NSAI has developed a mechanism to provide assistance with this task and are awaiting clarification with respect to their powers under the NSAI Act.
I have been informed by officials that an estimation of the finalisation of the review of comments, and subsequent publication of the revised I.S. 465, will be provided shortly. I have requested the NSAI to publish this update on their website when available.
279. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on that of an organisation (details supplied) that changes in our regulatory environment are critical to a more competitive business environment; that a well-designed and enforced regulatory environment is a critical feature of a modern, complex economy and can boost growth in living standards; that there are opportunities within constrained fiscal parameters to improve the competitiveness of the Irish economy by making improvements to the ways we regulate, easing the regulatory burden on business and reducing the cost of compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52657/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently published Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity – a commitment in the Programme for Government – is a whole-of-government strategic response to the challenges that Ireland is facing. A key focus of the Action Plan is improving Ireland’s regulatory environment under the theme ‘Regulating for Growth and Controlling Costs.’
Measures under this theme include introducing a ‘Red Tape Challenge’ across Government to reduce regulation for SMEs, a public consultation to identify areas of high burden, and all Government Departments will apply the SME test to all measures in particular to policy initiatives where it is proposed to increase costs on small business.
In terms of my own Department, there is an ongoing commitment to ensuring that the regulatory environment is proportionate and fit for purpose. This includes the conduct of Regulatory Impact Analysis and the systematic application of the SME Test which has been designed to invite consideration of less stringent compliance requirements for smaller companies, where appropriate and proportionate.
My Department has also established a Small Business Unit which has been tasked with ensuring that the needs and issues of small businesses have a dedicated focus and are recognised and acknowledged across Government.
In terms of legislative change, the Companies Act was updated through the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Act 2024 which introduced a range of practical reforms consistent with ensuring that Ireland’s regulatory framework provides flexibility and is fit for modern business operating in an increasingly digital and virtual environment.
Work is ongoing to modernise and reform a range of other legislation including the Co-operative Societies Bill and legislation relating to Limited Partnerships and Business Names.
The foregoing complements work ongoing at EU level where there is a particular focus on simplification and burden reduction at EU level with a view to improving EU competitiveness and ensuring there aren’t disproportionate burdens on business, particularly SMEs.
This is being led by the European Council, which last October called for a “simplification revolution” by ensuring a clear, simple and smart regulatory framework for businesses and reducing administrative, regulatory and reporting burdens, in particular for SMEs.
280. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of vacancies at the Corporate Enforcement Authority, by job title; the timeframe for each of those vacancies being filled, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrent staffing numbers for the CEA are set out in the following table.
|
- |
C.S. - Permanent |
C.S. - Temporary |
AGS |
Total |
|
No. of Sanctioned Positions |
72 |
1 |
16 |
89 |
|
*Number of persons in situ |
64 |
1 |
8 |
73 |
|
Number of vacancies |
9 |
0 |
8 |
17 *The above includes 1 PO that will be suppressed upon falling vacant: |
2. Current Vacancies
Civil Servants – CEA
|
Job Title |
Grade |
Status |
|
Members of the Authority x 2 |
PO1 + Allowance |
Recruitment process ongoing. |
|
Senior Digital Investigation Manager |
AP |
Competition to be planned. |
|
Senior Legal Advisor x 2 |
AP |
2 Candidates commencing on the 28th October 2025. |
|
Senior Enforcement Manager (Civil) |
AP |
Recruitment process ongoing. |
|
Senior HR Manager |
AP |
PAS interviews mid-September. CEA is 1st on the Dublin panel. Expectation for a candidate to start in Q1 2026. |
|
Senior Governance & Support Operations Manager |
AP |
Offer accepted with notice period expected start date is January 2026. |
|
Human Resources HEO |
HEO |
Recruitment process ongoing. Escalation with PAS re open competition for HEO HR role to be advertised. |
3. AGS – CEA Officers
|
Inspector |
x1 |
The closing date for applications was 26th September 2025. The competition is currently being run by the AGS in conjunction with the CEA. |
|
Detective Sergeants |
x2 |
The closing date for applications was 26th September 2025. The competition is currently being run by the AGS in conjunction with the CEA. |
|
Detective Gardaí |
x5 |
The closing date for applications was 26th September 2025. The competition is currently being run by the AGS in conjunction with the CEA. |
The CEA is in the process of filling the vacancies within the organisation, with three of the current vacancies filled, with the new staff to commence in the coming months. The process for the recruitment of seconded members of An Garda Síochána is in progress, with ongoing liaison between the CEA and An Garda Síochána following the closing date for the competition last week. The process of recruitment of two new Members of the Authority has commenced. These new posts will provide additional senior management oversight given the rapid expansion of the Agency since its establishment in 2022.
281. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to increase capacity in a school (details supplied) to cater for the growing number of applicants in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52623/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department approved capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special education needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school's existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
The school in question was approved 2 Special education classrooms in Modular accommodation. This project is currently in delivery and at stage 3. Additionally, the school were approved a 4 class Special education classroom traditional build, which is currently at stage 1.
At the time of the assessment it was found that the school had adequate mainstream accommodation. If the school believe there is a need for further additional accommodation, then it is open to them to submit a further application under the ASA scheme. This will be assessed taking into account the needs and capacity at the school and the wider School Planning Area.
282. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE narrows the definition of 'complex needs' and excludes many behavioural needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52632/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra283. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE creates an overly limited application window of 15 September to 24 October for review thereby excluding mid-year needs assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52633/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a pause on the implementation of the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE, until parents, schools, and SNAs are meaningfully consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52635/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 283 and 285 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools by helping to ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
My department has been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. This September there will be over 23,000 SNAs allocated to schools, working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. This is the highest number ever.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) issues guidance each year to schools regarding SNA reviews and the guidance for 2025/26 school year issued on the 12 September 2025.
It is important to clarify some of the issues raised since publication of the guidelines.
The process for allocating SNAs has been in place since 2014 and is not changing this year. There has been no freeze on SNAs, in fact the number of SNAs in our schools has increased by 43% in the last 5 years alone.
Schools were issued with their allocations for the 2025/26 school year in June and the SNA review window from 15 September to 24 October relates to schools who believe they do not have sufficient SNAs to support their care needs at present.
A school can apply to the NCSE at any time during the school year, as in previous years, for a review where emerging or new care needs arise. An emerging care need for example would be changing care needs in their existing student enrolment, newly identified care need or a new enrolment(s) with care needs.
The NCSE has written to all schools since the publication of the guidelines to clarify that a school can request a review during the school year and not just in the review period set out in the guidelines.
The following are the reasons for the timeline of reviews contained in the guidance:
Supports the earlier announcement of allocations for the 2026/27 school year to align with the release of the annual staffing schedule.
Management bodies, staff representative bodies, schools and SNA’s have all requested the department to ensure that SNA allocations issue earlier each year and ideally should align with the general staffing allocation in February each year.
Supports the SNA workforce by giving them early clarity on their roles.
Facilitates the SNA Redeployment Scheme.
The role and responsibilities for SNAs has also not changed. SNAs remain responsible for meeting primary care needs for students with special educational needs.
New special classes continue to be supported with additional SNAs each time a new class opens – this has not changed. The NCSE guidelines set out the number of SNAs per each category of special class and there is no change to those baseline allocations.
Any school who has concerns about the level of their SNA allocation should contact their local special education needs organiser. This has always been the case and remains today.
The NCSE assesses the level of need within the school as a whole and this is critical to ensure that the care needs of the entire school are identified and that the school is resourced to meet this identified need. There continues to be separate allocations for mainstream and special classes in individual schools.
Then the NCSE completes the SNA review and if additional SNA support is identified as being required it will be provided. This has always been the case.
The NCSE carried out a record number of reviews in 2025 to ensure that children who most needed SNA support could access it. This will continue for 2025/26 school year. I want to assure you that the department and the NCSE, through all of our policy and guidance such as resource allocations, take a child centred focus and approach to ensure that all children in our schools with special education care needs are provided with a supportive environment and the resources needed to help them develop and be prepared for life after school.
The NCSE has confirmed they will be engaging with stakeholders to clarify any issues raised.
284. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-26 published by the NCSE contain a requirement to evidence use of the RELATE framework which is not realistic for schools to demonstrate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52634/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) review all aspects of support in schools to ensure that schools have the right supports in place. The NCSE incorporate a multi-tiered appraisal of student need, school deployment of existing SNA allocation and school practice during a SNA allocation review.
The NCSE Relate programme launched in February 2025 is a comprehensive resource to support school staff to understand and reframe behaviour. Training with hundreds of schools nationwide has been undertaken and the NCSE has provided a number of resources in which schools can engage which are available on their website, ncse.ie/relate. It is also open to schools to contact the NCSE in relation to any training need and arrange training.
The NCSE welcomes all documentation a school wishes to submit as part of its review process and will include all available information that a school chooses to submit. Ultimately, where additional SNA resources are necessary to support the needs of students in a school, this will be provided as it has been in previous years.
In addition. following the outcome of the review, the NCSE can make a local special educational needs organiser (SENO) available to the school to discuss their current deployment of SNA supports in the school and to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support.
286. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a person can expect to receive their pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52664/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that officials from my Department have engaged directly with Caranua in relation to this matter to have it resolved as soon as possible and will contact the individual concerned in that regard.
287. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the home tuition grant for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52665/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
An application under the home tuition grant scheme for the child referred to by the Deputy was received by Home Tuition Unit within my department on the 19th of September 2025 and a decision letter issued to grant the home tuition to the parent/guardian by email on the 26th of September 2025.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme (Special Education component) is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
Pre-School Children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
Children seeking a Special School or Special Class placement
Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
Students, enrolled in schools, with school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
Under category b above, the aim of the department is to meet the needs of families and to ensure every child is allocated a suitable school placement. The preferred approach is that children are educated in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with student peers. Accordingly, home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement. In the case referred to by the deputy, home tuition is being provided until building work are completed.
While the Home Tuition application form outlines that it may take the department up to 15 working days to process home tuition applications, the department is prioritising the processing of applications with a view to processing completed applications sooner than the 15 day deadline.
288. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for classroom extensions for autism classrooms in a school (details supplied); if the application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52696/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred by the deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for a project providing 2 SEN Base classrooms and 1 SET room. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
I can confirm that a Stage 1 report was returned to my department. Following a period of communication and clarification on the initial report, a request for a revised report was required which has now been submitted. This report is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Department’s infrastructure guidelines.
Furthermore, as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special education needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The NDP implementation plan will be considered as part of the ongoing review of this school building project. Once the NDP implantation plan is finished my department will be in a position to inform the school of the outcome regarding the progression of this project.
289. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on a project in a school (details supplied); if her Department will review the emergency works scheme applications in relation to the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52700/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special educational needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
With regards to the project in question roof repair in sports hall, the EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. This application has been granted funding and is currently with the school to progress further.
As the Deputy may be aware, the EWS is a devolved process whereby the responsibly for the delivery of the project is delegated to the schools Board of Management using Department funding and guidelines.
290. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding funding to support online safety programmes for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52711/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 articulates that the education system must equip children and young people with the appropriate knowledge and competence as they navigate the online world, supporting them in the safe, ethical use of the internet
Online safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies is a key component of the Department’s Digital Strategy with a wide range of training material and resources available through the Webwise Internet Safety Programme to support teachers, students and parents on online safety, and related matters.
Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, part of the Safer Internet Ireland consortium and partners with ISPCC Childline, Hotline.ie, and the National Parents Council under the umbrella of the Irish Safer Internet Centre to provide a range of complementary online safety services.
Webwise (webwise.ie) promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages. The webwise.ie resource includes a dedicated School/Teachers Hub, a Parents Hub and a Youth Hub which give practical information and advice on the safe, ethical and responsible use of the internet and addresses key issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, image sharing, respectful communication, social media, popular apps and more.
Webwise also creates, develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools (mostly through delivery of the Social Personal and Health Education curriculum). With the help of its Youth Advisory Panel, Webwise develops youth-oriented awareness raising resources and training programmes that promote digital citizenship and address topics such as online wellbeing, cyberbullying and more.
Webwise is jointly funded by the Department of Education and Youth and the EU Internet Safety Initiative. Over the latest EU funding period, which covers the 18 months from July 2024 to December 2025, EU funding of €263,000 has been allocated to Webwise. In addition, the Department has provided funding of approx. €265,000 per year to Webwise over the last three years.
Oide Technology in Education (Oide-TiE), a Department funded support service, who promote and supports the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post-primary schools. In addition to specific support for the school sector, Oide-TiE has a key function in ensuring that the effective use of digital technologies is embedded in all teacher professional learning programmes delivered across the Oide support service.
The National Parents Council (partners in the Safer Internet Centre) are also funded to provide online safety education for parents. The aim is to provide parents with the information and skills to be able to engage in children's online lives. Parents will be introduced to strategies to help their children be responsible, effective and safer Internet users.
Funding of €365,313 has been provided to the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre for the period 2023 to date. This included funding for the roll-out of their FUSE Anti-Bullying and Online Safety programme and other anti-bullying initiatives.
It was with the wellbeing of learners, and the empowerment of parents and school communities through education and information, in mind, that the Department published guidelines in November 2023 for parents called Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free. The aim is to support parents of primary school children who wish to agree collectively on a voluntary agreement on the use of smartphones for their primary school age child. Following the publication of the guidelines, the Department hosted a number of parents information sessions across the country and a series of parent webinars on children's use of digital technology and supporting children online.
To support this initiative Oide-TiE has developed the Digital Citizenship Champion programme in collaboration with Webwise. The programme is designed to equip primary teachers with essential knowledge, skills and resources to effectively teach and champion digital citizenship in schools and through their local Education Centre. Under this initiative 75 primary teachers from across Ireland are being upskilled to become ‘Digital Citizenship Champions’ through a range of face-to-face professional learning events and online support.
A pilot online safety initiative, titled the “Agree to Agree” project, is currently underway across three education centres and involves 21 primary schools. It will facilitate each school in collaborating, designing and implementing an Internet and Technology Use Agreement particular to their individual circumstance. It will also raise awareness of the ‘Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free’ guidelines and all the education resources available through Webwise. Funding of €47,134 has been provided to date by my Department for the initiative.
In August 2024, all schools both primary and post-primary, were instructed to implement a ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day. This policy approach is based on the growing concerns expressed about the impact of the use of mobile phones during the school day. It is recognised that many schools already have well-developed and managed policies in place in this area and this initiative will build on that foundation and on the “Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free” policy aimed at primary school children. Funding of €9 million was made available for schools under Budget 2025 provisions for the procurement of mobile phone storage solutions (such as pouches) to facilitate the ban. Further guidance issued to schools in June, including easily accessible advice on the procurement of phone storage solutions.
291. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a new school building project (details supplied). [52714/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
The brief for this project is to provide an extension and refurbishment to the existing school building to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils and also provide a 4 classroom SEN base for the school.
The project is currently at Stage 2b (post planning process) of the architectural process which allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When this stage has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of this project, the NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them fully informed of progress on this important project.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The current status of all projects is listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie, and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
292. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52743/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy is part of a shared educational campus which was completed in Q4 2023 and delivered a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and two 24 classroom primary schools and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children with special education needs. The campus project also delivered 3 GP areas, a PE Hall in the post-primary school and 13 ballcourts in total.
The lands to the south of the site have been designated as a flood retention area as required under the campus flood mitigation design. The area will be subject to ponding of water and potential flooding given that the these lands are designed to retain overflow flood waters during periods of heavy rainfall.
A planning application was submitted to the local authority by the contractor to provide the access road and entrance to this area. Notification of Decision to Grant Planning Permission was received from Cork County Council on 20th February 2025. Upon completion of these works, the area can be made available and will be managed by the post-primary school in terms of shared access for all three schools on the campus as a green area.
293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline her Department’s position in circumstances where schools require pupils to wear uniforms but are not affording reasonable accommodation to children with additional needs or sensory sensitivities; the recourse available to parents in such situations; and if, further to Circular 0032/2017 on school uniform costs, she will consider issuing a new circular to schools and boards of management specifically emphasising the importance of reasonable accommodation for children in relation to school uniforms. [52760/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUltimately, decisions on school uniforms are a matter for individual schools and Boards of Management.
In relation to complaints about implementation of its uniform policy, the school’s formal complaints process should be followed in pursuing any complaint.
Where parents or guardians are of the view that a school's Board of Management has failed to investigate or adequately investigate their complaint, it is open to them to raise the matter directly with the Chairperson of the Board of Management.
In the event that a parent is dissatisfied with how a complaint has been handled, they may make a complaint to the Ombudsman for Children if they believe that the school’s actions have had a negative effect on the student.
I have committed in Education Plan 2025 to commence work in 2025 to review Circular 32/2017.
I am pleased to confirm that work has commenced on updating this circular and the revised circular will put a greater emphasis on reducing costs for parents.
My department is also progressing the Charter Bill, which will strengthen engagement between schools, parents and students, including on issues such as school costs and uniform policies.
The overall aim of the Bill is to improve the level of engagement between the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observation from the school community and by further developing a listening culture in schools.
294. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the name of each primary and post-primary school that has been granted DEIS band 1 and DEIS band 2 status, respectively, in every year from 2019 to 2025; and the number of SNAs per school, in each of the years 2019 to 2025. [52810/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. 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.
The Minister is committed to narrowing the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introducing innovative solutions to address disadvantage. A new DEIS plan will be published this year. Details of the new DEIS plan are currently being developed in collaboration with an advisory group.
The most recent expansion of the DEIS programme occurred in 2022 following the previous expansion in 2017. Schools included in the expansion were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme, and the model was applied fairly and equally. Schools were identified for inclusion in the DEIS programme based on their standardised disadvantage score.
Schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage are included in the DEIS programme. At primary level schools are assigned to DEIS Urban Band 1, DEIS Urban 2 or DEIS Rural based on the location of the school and based on its level of disadvantage. Those urban primary schools having the very highest levels of disadvantage being assigned to Urban Band 1. Post-primary schools are not banded; they are either DEIS or non-DEIS schools.
The link below has the list of schools added following the expansion of the programme in 2022. A list of all schools which are currently in the DEIS programme is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/policy-information/deis-delivering-equality-of-opportunity-in-schools/, in the DEIS Schools 2025-2026 list.
SNA allocations for all schools, including those with DEIS status are published on the NCSE website and available at the following link: ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations
