Written Answers Nos. 186-207
188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the case of a person (details supplied) can be examined; if a school transport ticket can be issued in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53219/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil mentioned by the Deputy resides 3.2 kms from home to school, their nearest school and school of attendance. This pupil is not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the post primary school transport scheme.
Bus Éireann further advise that an application was received on time for the 2025/26 school year however the pupil mentioned was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2025/26 school year and the existing service is currently operating to capacity
189. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the closure of schools in some cases is at the discretion of her Department. [53221/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the decision-making authority for any change of status, including school closure and change of patronage, is the patron/trustees of the school concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department.
Any proposal for school closure must involve extensive consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. Such proposals are subject to the agreement of the Department of Education and Youth.
190. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of all of the ongoing projects in Dublin West under the planning and building unit, broken down into five core stages (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53226/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 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.
The current status of all projects, including those in Dublin west, is set out under item number ten at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/d73cb-building-works-for-the-construction-extension-and-refurbishment-of-schools/#school-building-projects-large-scale-additional-accommodation-scheme-current-status-lists
This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
191. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Jen Cummins den Aire Oideachais agus Óige cad é an stádas reatha chun foirgneamh buan a thógáil do scoil (sonraí curtha ar fáil) i gContae Bhaile Átha Cliath; cad í an chúis leis an moill; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53230/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers is part of a campus project and is devolved for delivery to CEIST.
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.
CEIST, as the delivery body will continue to engage directly with the school community to keep it fully informed of progress.
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.
192. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will set out the process by which schools may apply for funding for the development of playground facilities, particularly where such facilities would be available for use both by pupils and by the wider community; and if she will provide details of any funding schemes or application processes currently available to schools for this purpose. [53264/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvestment and expenditure on sports facilities in primary and post-primary schools is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas, and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Learning experiences relating to the curriculum such as Athletics, Invasion Games and Adventure Activities can take place outdoors on tarmac.
The provision of outdoor play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. The current design guidance for new primary and post primary schools includes hard-surfaced play areas for both recreation and physical education activities. The guidance also includes for the provision of landscaped areas on school sites providing a variety of external informal and social areas to suit the learning development and cultural needs of pupils/students during breaks and before and after school, and for a range of more formal curriculum needs. In addition, the design guidance for accommodation for pupils with special educational needs includes the provision of external play areas with soft-surfacing and sensory gardens.
As schools are often the centre of sustainable communities there can be mutual benefits in building links with the local community. It is recognised that schools play an important role in their wider communities and many schools make their facilities available outside of school hours for a variety of different uses and users. The co-operation between schools and local sporting organisations in applying for sports grants is one example of this. The policy of my Department is to support the use of school premises and facilities for community, recreational, education-related and other relevant purposes where possible.
The Deputy may be aware, the recently announced details in respect of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme 2026 onwards. The purpose of this scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The scheme will operate on a multi-annual basis for a number of categories including external environment projects, which could include the provision or upgrade of outdoor play areas. Full details of the new scheme including the Circular and guidance documents for schools can be found on the department’s website. Schools can also use their minor works grant to upgrade outdoor play areas including basketball courts. Repairs to existing play areas may be considered under the department’s Emergency Works Scheme. The scheme is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered. In the case of outdoor play areas this usually only includes repairs to existing play areas but each application is assessed on its own merits.
193. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to keep teachers who return home from abroad up to date with the new curriculum. [53277/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOide is the national support service providing professional learning for teachers and school leaders. Oide provides school-based supports, professional learning experiences (PLE) through full-day in person events, seminars, webinars and wide range of online resources.
Teachers returning to teach in primary and post-primary schools will have full access to Oide PLE alongside all other teachers and school leaders as part of whole school closure days.
Materials and resources relating to face-to-face PLE that have taken place for teachers in the area of new curriculum specifications are made available on the Oide website (www.oide.ie). These include slide presentations, booklet materials, posters and additional resources.
Recorded webinars are also made available on the Oide website (www.oide.ie) under the specific curricular area. Other Oide elective PLE are available to all teachers, who are registered with the Teaching Council, to attend in their own time.
In 2025, the redeveloped primary curriculum will be also supported through development of online curriculum toolkits by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) which will provide guidance to teachers and support progression in learning as children move across the various stages.
The toolkits will contain guidance related to important aspects of primary education such as assessment, and school / classroom planning. There will also be examples of children’s learning across the curriculum areas and subjects. Support materials for teachers providing examples of effective pedagogical approaches, foster rich learning experiences and encourage connections with the home and community will also be available. While initial material is currently available, the online toolkits will continue to be developed in the years ahead.
At post-primary level, the NCCA have published up-to-date Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle curriculum, along with teacher resources such as assessment guidelines and toolkits. Up-to-date information on Senior Cycle Redevelopment is also available at gov.ie/seniorcycle. Regular updates, including detailed information notes to schools on the rollout of the redevelopment programme, are published on this page.
194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will amend Circular 0010/2013 to allow for funding to be deposited into a school's account in order for it to purchase assistive technology equipment for eligible students, rather than the current scheme which puts pressure on smaller schools as they must purchase the equipment first and then be reimbursed, which creates situations where certain schools do not have the budget to purchase this equipment first and children are left without this necessary equipment. [53322/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment. It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
The Assistive Technology Scheme, provided by my department, supplements the overall funding approach for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children who require essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum. For children with more complex disabilities who require such equipment to access the school curriculum, which they do not already have or which cannot be provided for them through the schools' existing provisions, schools can apply for this equipment under the terms of the Assistive Technology Scheme.
The Special Education section is currently reviewing the Assistive Technology Scheme, with one of the key goals being to streamline the application process. At present, schools are required to purchase the equipment upfront and submit receipts and a claim form to receive reimbursement. This process can place financial pressure on smaller schools, potentially delaying the child’s access to the said assistive technology.
As part of the ongoing review of the Assistive Technology scheme, all aspects of the application process are being examined. This includes the refund process, where consideration is being given to providing funds to schools in advance of equipment purchases. Not only will this change aim to streamline the application process but it will expedite the time in which children who require assistive technology receive their equipment.
195. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 17 September 2025, to provide an update on the response of the school in question to the instruction that only one waiting list should be in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53324/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in PQ 48643/25 the Department sought further clarifications from the school in respect of their admission policy and waiting list. The school has advised that they are maintaining one main waiting list with the names of all applicants who did not receive a place in the school for the 2025/26 school year. The school has confirmed that the names on this main waiting list are maintained in accordance with the order of priority as set down by the school’s admission policy.
The school has also informed the Department that there is a smaller separate waiting list for pupils l who were unsuccessful in their application for a place for the 2025/26 school year, due to the maximum number of applicants being allocated a place. The school has confirmed that these applicants are also included on the main waiting list.
The school has also informed the Department that they will have one waiting list for the 2026/27 school year in line with their admission policy.
196. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the position of a school (details supplied) will be considered having regard to the fact the school, when requested, opened a special ASD class four years ago on the specific understanding that additional accommodation would be provided; the reason the proposed extension has not yet been approved to go to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53342/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide one special education classroom and repurposing works to create one special education classroom. This project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
A Stage 2b (post planning) report was received in Q2 2025. This 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, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public 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 educational 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 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 NDP implementation plan will be considered as part of the ongoing review of this school building project. Once the NDP implementation plan is finalised my Department will be in a position to inform the school of the outcome regarding the progression of this project.
197. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth when construction of a school (details supplied) will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53343/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe brief for this project is to provide a new permanent school for the school referred to by the Deputy, and this project is designed to be delivered in 2 phases; Phase 1 will deliver accommodation for 425 students and Phase 2 will deliver the remaining accommodation to provide for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1000 students, at the former Magee Barracks site in Kildare.
The Design Team lodged their initial application for planning permission for the preferred design option with the Local Authority in October 2023. The Design Team subsequently received a substantial Request for Further Information (RFI) from the Local Authority in respect of the planning application. Following the Design Teams RFI response to the Local Authority, the Design Team received the Local Authority’s initial decision to grant planning permission, with conditions, on 09 October 2024.
The initial grant of planning decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála and the Design Team received An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission in early February 2025.
The project is currently at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The Design Team issued the tender to the Departments Design & Build Framework of Contractors, with a return date in May 2025. The Design Team have recently reviewed the tenders received and have submitted their report to the Department with their recommendations, for review and approval.
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.
198. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 25 September 2025, if she will provide the figures confirming the cost to date of the installation of solar panels under the solar for schools programme (schools PV programme) since the scheme was introduced in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53366/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Schools PV Programme provides eligible schools with up to 6 kilowatts peak of roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on their roofs, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels.
The Schools PV Programme is funded by the Government’s Climate Action Fund in line with the Government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools’ sector.
My Department is not releasing the exact budget or current costs for the programme at this stage, as it remains an active delivery initiative and the information is commercially sensitive. Withholding this detail helps ensure contractors provide competitive bids rather than aligning their prices to the average funding available per school. The Department of Education and Youth continues to monitor expenditure under the scheme to ensure it delivers value for money.
199. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the departmental policy relating to the presence of asbestos in school buildings and whether it is acceptable that children would be walking on broken asbestos tiles on a daily basis. [53375/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI should explain that applications relating to the provision of funding for issues relating to an existing school building, including for asbestos remediation, can fall under a number of different delivery mechanisms including, most frequently, the Emergency Works Scheme.
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. 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.
If the Deputy is referring to an asbestos issue in a specific school please note that it is open to a school to make an application for EWS funding for the remediation of an asbestos issue. Schools can do this by completing the online Emergency Works Application Form available through the Esinet system.
200. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools a project management company (details supplied) has been appointed by her Department to project manage or provide other construction consultancy services between 2019 and 2025. [53376/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education & Youth have appointed the project management company referred to by the Deputy as programme managers to a number of capital delivery programmes in the period 2019 to 2025. These are, detailed in the table below:
|
Programme Name |
Approximate Number of Schools |
|
Design & Build large scale Schools Programme |
32 schools |
|
Design, Procurement, Construction and Delivery of a group of Employer Design School Projects in Selected Locations, Leinster |
6 schools |
|
SEN Reconfiguration & Modular Accommodation Programme |
130 school projects (Refurbishment and Reconfiguration of classrooms) 262 school projects (Additional SEN modular accommodation & mainstream classes) |
|
Schools Photovoltaic Programme Phase 1 & 2 Audit Inspection Services of Completed Installations |
Circa 470 school inspections |
|
Climate Action RePower EU Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme (two Lots) – Full Multi Disciplinary Design Team Services |
6 schools |
201. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently address the disparity in salary for special needs assistants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSNAs are valued members of our school communities who carry out vital work in our schools supporting students with diverse needs. The Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services and continues to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer. This has been achieved through a series of national collective agreements, agreed between trade unions and the Government, applying across the public sector.
Circular 0056/2025 confirms that SNAs are covered under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 (PSA) which applies to all public servants. The PSA builds on the previous agreement “Building Momentum” which ended in 2023 to provide for a number of pay increases that have been approved by Government. The pay element of the PSA includes further increases of 9.25% up to June 2026.
Furthermore, since September 1st, 2001, under Circular 0063/2008, a Pension Scheme and an associated Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme have been in place for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed in secondary, community and comprehensive schools. This is a contributory, defined benefit scheme that provides standard public service pension benefits.
As is standard practice, discussions with public service unions continue on all matters relating to pay agreements. Any review of terms and conditions including pay and pensions for SNAs will follow these established processes and be considered in detail by the Department of Education, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform, and the relevant unions.
202. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider providing access to a HAA medical card and a full pension to industrial school survivors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53385/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2023, the Government approved the provision of a package of supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions, such as industrial schools and reformatories, comprised of ongoing health, education and advocacy supports.
While the provision of health and supports required the passage of legislation, in November 2023 the Department entered a grant funding arrangement with Sage Advocacy, a specialist independent advocacy organisation, to provide advocacy supports to survivors wishing to engage with other relevant services.
Government approved the legislation required to roll out health and education supports in April 2024 and the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 completed its passage through the legislative process in July 2025.
It is estimated that approximately 10,000 survivors who previously received an award of redress from the Residential Institutions Redress Board, or a similar court award or settlement, will be eligible for the supports provided under the Act. The provision of these supports marks a new phase in the State’s response to this issue and builds on previous initiatives including the establishment of a redress scheme, the provision of funding supports through Caranua and other supports and services.
The package of health supports and services which is provided for in this Bill will ensure survivors who are resident in the State will have access to a range of health supports through the HSE, including GP services, home nursing and home helps, chiropody and podiatry, and physiotherapy. This approach is consistent with the approach taken previously in respect of survivors and former residents of the Magdalen Laundries and Mother and Baby Institutions.
This entitlement will be for life and will not be subject to means-tests or periodic reviews.
Survivors living abroad will be able to avail of a payment of €3,000 in lieu of this package of supports, to support their health needs. This is the same approach taken in respect of the Mother and Baby Institutions.
With regard to the HAA card provided for under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996, it is important to note that this was introduced specifically to meet the very significant health needs of a particular group of individuals who had contracted a serious and life-threatening condition, i.e. individuals who had contracted Hepatitis C through the administration within the State of contaminated blood and blood products.
The Act also provides for the establishment of a new scheme involving the payment of cash grants ranging from €500 to €2,000 (depending on NFQ level and whether the course is full-time or part-time) to survivors who are engaging in further and higher education. This scheme will also ensure that survivors are not required to pay the Student Contribution Charge where this would otherwise apply.
My Department is finalising the administrative arrangements for the delivery of these supports and it is expected that they will be open for applications from survivors in the coming weeks.
With regard to pensions, it is acknowledged that some survivors have sought the provision of a pension-type payment similar to that provided to survivors of the Magdalen Laundries, and this matter was discussed in detail during the passage of the Act. However, it should be noted that those payments reflect the very particular circumstances involved, where the women were engaged, as adults, in some cases for many years, in commercial work without pay or the required social insurance contributions.
204. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to alter the status of tutors working under the home tuition scheme in terms of their recognition and inclusion within the broader education system, and their entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53432/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Department of Education and Youth’s Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0047/2025 provides information in relation to the 2025/2026 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Circular_0047-2025_Home_Tuition_Grant_Scheme_2025_2026__Special_Education_Component.pdf
For children and students who qualify under the Home Tuition Grant Schemes, sanction is given to allocate a grant to the parents/legal guardians for the provision of home tuition for the child/student in question. Parents/legal guardians source and engage tutors to provide the tuition in a private arrangement. To facilitate parents, my department acts as payroll agent on behalf of the parent/legal guardian for the payment of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme. It is important to note that there is no contractual relationship between the tutor and the department.
Tutors engaged under the scheme are generally considered self-employed and are liable for PRSI class S contributions, as determined by the Department of Social Protection. In accordance with instructions from the Revenue Commissioners, payments made under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source. Tutors are paid monthly in arrears for hours worked, following submission of a completed payment claim form which is co-signed by both the tutor and the parent or legal guardian.
At present, there are no plans to alter the status of tutors working under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme or to review the existing arrangements with the Revenue Commissioners or the Department of Social Protection.
205. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 30 September 2025, the plans to allow private independent music schools access to funding for the delivery of subsidised music lessons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53434/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to PQ 52019/25, my Department currently has no plans to provide funding to private independent music schools. In regard to non-mainstream music education, my Department provides funding annually to Music Generation to support the provision of performance music education to children and young people, as well as to support the schools of music in four Education and Training Boards (ETBs). In December 2017, as part of the Creative Youth Plan, Government announced its commitment to support the roll-out of Music Generation nationwide by 2022. The commitment to funding Music Generation was continued in the successor Creative Youth Plan of 2023-2027, and is also reflected in the Programme for Government.
206. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify growing concerns among school bus escorts around their payment; if it is the case that school bus escorts are only paid from the minute a child gets on the school bus until they get off, despite many escorts spending up to an hour on the bus before a child gets on; and if Circular 0085/2024 can provide clarity to school boards of management to reassure schools and bus escorts of their working hours. [53461/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Further to my recent response to the Deputy on this matter, I can confirm that circular 0085/2024 guides Boards of Management/ETBs to the information pack that has been circulated to schools and is also available online.
The information pack is set out at the following link for the Deputy's information.
207. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school bus service will return for a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53532/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Unfortunately, difficulties have arisen in a number of locations, with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles / drivers.
These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability and this is affecting the service referred to by the Deputy. The Bus Éireann local office is working to source cover for this service and will contact the family as soon as it is ready to start.
Both the department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for children with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore receive an interim Special Transport Grant (STG). This is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until the service starts. Affected families do not need to apply for this grant and will be contacted directly by School Transport Section in my department with more details.
