Written Answers Nos. 428-447
432. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address the serious and ongoing concerns being experienced by a school in County Offaly (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54729/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings to provide a 2 classroom SEN base and to replace displaced accommodation. The project was devolved to the school for delivery.
A Stage 3 Tender Report has been received and is under review in line with the Public Spending Code. Department officials are currently assessing options to ensure value for money and to keep the project within anticipated costs. Once this review is complete, my department will communicate the outcome to the school authority.
Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth 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 the 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 roll-out 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 roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. This will be the context for assessing all project roll-out for the 2026 to 2030 period including in relation to this school.
433. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the lack of school transport options for students at schools (details supplied), particularly as one of these schools is due to move to a new permanent location; if school transport will be supplied for these students in the years before the school moves to its permanent location; if not, if she will request the Department of Transport and NTA to extend the current 139 bus route north to Tyrrelstown and Hollywoodrath in order that students can use a single bus to travel to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54741/25]
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 current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are 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.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits. Bus Éireann have advised that at present they have not received 10 applications to one of the schools being referred to by the deputy for the 2025/2026 school year. There is currently no mainstream service operating to this school.
Bus Éireann has also advised that they have not received any applications to the other school the deputy made reference too.
In relation to Route 139 mentioned ,this is a public scheduled service and does not fall under the remit of the school transport scheme and is a matter for the National Transport Authority.
434. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if junior cycle coordinators will be formally recognised as a leadership role, eligible for appointment to an Assistant Principal II post. [54756/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no "Junior Cycle Coordinator" post of responsibility in place. However, to ensure that the necessary time and resources are available to implement the Junior Cycle, a number of resources continue to be made available to schools. These include:
• An extensive programme of CPD for school leaders and teachers;
• Professional time for every teacher;
• Additional paid hours for the coordination of Subject Learning and Assessment Review meetings; and
• Management resources hours for each school.
The board of management of each school or the ETB, as appropriate, along with the in-school management team, is accountable for the overall implementation of the Junior Cycle in the school, as it is for all other aspects of the school’s work. In recognition of the fact that the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 has implications for school leaders, additional management resource hours were allocated to schools (via substitution) with effect from 2016 on an interim basis pending the restoration of leadership posts in schools, to help with the facilitation of this additional work. Circular Letter 3/2018 - ‘Leadership and Management In Post-Primary Schools’ provided details regarding the restoration of leadership and management posts in those schools, including some 1,300 leadership posts being restored to post-primary schools.
While these management resource hours were due to lapse my Department has decided, on an interim basis, to continue to allocate these hours. Schools are receiving these additional resources on the basis that their Junior Cycle students have access to teaching, learning and assessment practices, including the holding of SLAR meetings, in line with the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 and the associated specifications designed by the NCCA and approved by the Minister, including all assessment arrangements set out in Junior Cycle circulars.
For these hours, the Principal, with the approval of the Board of Management, following an open invitation for expressions of interest from the teachers in the school, allocates the additional teaching hours granted to the school to support him/her in implementing the new Junior Cycle.
435. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications received for the academic year for transport for children with additional needs; and the number that have been processed, by county, in tabular form. [54765/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
In the current school year already almost 178,000 children and young people are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country.
Of those 178,000 pupils, services facilitate over 100,000 mainstream pupils who are eligible for transport, as well as over 49,000 concessionary pupils. In addition, over 23,000 pupils are travelling on dedicated school transport services for children with additional needs.
As of the 9th October, over 5,900 new applications under the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs have been received for the 2025/26 school year. It is important to note that while there is a closing date for applications, the Department accept applications all year round so this number is expected to increase.
The above figure includes new applications from pupils who have moved address or school, pupils who will be placed on existing services where there is capacity, and pupils who will require new services which involve a procurement process. This figure also includes applications where families will request a special transport grant where the pupil is deemed eligible for transport, however, it may not be possible for them to travel on school transport services because of their individual requirements.
436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if children with emotional and behavioural challenges will continue to be supported with SNAs; the proposed changes to the SNA supports; where children with additional needs present with emotional and behavioural challenges as opposed to primary care needs; the way in which these children will be supported if they do not have access to an SNA; the way in which school classrooms will function if children with emotional and behavioural challenges do not have access to a SNA to be supported outside of the classroom during periods of overwhelm; if she is aware of the difficulties being faced by school teachers as a result of classroom disruption due to children’s emotional and behavioural challenges going unsupported; if she has consulted with teacher and school principal representative bodies in relation to any proposed changes to the SNA structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) issues guidance each year to schools regarding special needs assistant (SNA) reviews and the guidance for 2025/26 school year issued on the 12 September 2025.
It is important to clarify some of the concerns 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 NCSE has confirmed that no SNA post was removed from any school that was remaining open for the 2025/26 school year.
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. It remains that 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.
Importantly, the role and responsibilities of SNAs have not changed. SNAs remain responsible for meeting the primary care needs of students with special educational needs. Principals/boards of management remain able to deploy this school-based resource to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This ensures schools remain able to provide flexible arrangements in how the SNA support is utilised on a day-to-day basis.?
Circular 0030/2014 outlines that provision of SNA Support should not be considered as a first response for the management of behaviour. SNA support should only be provided where behavioural management strategies have not been successful to date and where it is demonstrated how access to such support can assist with ongoing planning and intervention for the child. Schools are required to show evidence of the use of a variety of approaches to behaviour in all applications to the NCSE.
The NCSE has written to all schools since the publication of the guidelines to clarify these and other concerns.
437. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) had its emergency works application refused; if the application can be reviewed in view of the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54814/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for life safety systems.
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.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
The school's original application was refused as the application did not fit the remit of the Emergency Works Scheme. However, the option remains open to the school to appeal this decision. Appeals will only be considered if additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the original application is submitted to the Department.
438. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide from returns made to the FSSU the total amount paid to Uisce Éireann by primary and post-primary schools in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54829/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently working on a project to facilitate aggregate analysis of school accounts’ data, which will deliver greater data-informed decision making to inform financial policy and improve targeted advisory support for schools. This project will entail analysis of schools’ costs and expenditure data in tandem with data sources from other areas of the Department to better determine key drivers of expenditure across schools. The costs associated with water charges and other utilities will form part of this project analysis and report.
439. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the concerns expressed by schools which are financially challenged in relation to the receipt of substantial water charge bills from Uisce Éireann despite not being funded to meet such bills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54831/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including an over €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through Budget 2025. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This has resulted in the standard rates increasing from €200 to €224 for primary schools and from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools with effect from September 2025. Over the last two Budgets there has been a circa 22% increase in the level of capitation grant rates paid to schools. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2026, I am pleased that a total of €39m was secured for a permanent increase in mainstream capitation grant funding for schools, bringing the mainstream rate of capitation to €274 per pupil in primary schools and to €406 in post-primary schools for the 2026/2027 school year.
The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of capitation grant is €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
Schools experiencing financial difficulty are encouraged to contact my Department for advice and support. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to schools, which may include an advance in capitation grant funding or other measures.
The Department is constantly engaging with a number of schools in this respect. Schools that have contacted the Department have been referred to the FSSU.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
440. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review an application under the summer works scheme for a primary school (details supplied); if she will ensure that this application is given full consideration for approval in the 2025 summer works scheme, in light of the urgent need for remedial works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54845/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.
The CASWS operates on a multi-annual basis across a number of categories of works, which could include the provision of insulation and/or ventilation.
I can confirm that my Department has received an application under the CASWS for the school in question.
It is envisaged that approvals in any given year will involve a spread of categories rather than the traditional single category at a time. This is aimed at managing market capacity and maximising value for money opportunities for school authorities.
The CASWS will operate on a multi-annual basis with the first tranche of projects being announced in Q4 2025 for commencement in summer 2026. Under this scheme, approved applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons (as above) in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.
Full details of the new CASWS, Circular (0029/2025) for the scheme and guidance documents for schools can be found at the below link;
441. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a five-year-old child (details supplied) will be able to go to school. [54864/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (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 query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
442. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); if she will instruct her Department to investigate the matter and ensure that the child in question will be provided a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54887/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2022, in response to the war in Ukraine, my Department established REALT (Regional Education and Language Teams) to assist in enrolling children and young people who arrived from Ukraine in schools. REALT teams play a key role in supporting access to education for children and young people across their designated regions.
All children and young people up to the age of 18 years, including those in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive, have access to free?primary?and?post-primary?education on the same basis as Irish nationals. A school must admit all students, regardless of nationality or immigration status, where it is not oversubscribed and places are available. Where local schools are at capacity, REALT coordinators work to identify available places in nearby schools.
Regarding the specific case the Deputy has referred to the REALT coordinator has made contact with the family concerned to assist them to find a school place.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
443. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the need to repair and upgrade the playground in a school (details supplied); the grant options available to the school to address these safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54890/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI should explain that applications relating to the provision of funding for issues relating to an existing school building, including repairs and/or upgrades to play areas, can fall under a number of different delivery mechanisms including, most frequently, the Summer Works Scheme and 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.
The EWS operates on the basis of the minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. The EWS usually provides an interim solution until such time as a comprehensive solution can be provided under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS).
The purpose of the SWS is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.
In the case of the school in question it should be noted that there are currently no outstanding EWS or SWS projects for the repair or upgrade of a play area. Climate Action Summer works opened for applications on the 1st May 2025 and the applications window closed on the 30th June full details of the scheme can be found under [Summer Works Scheme]. The EWS is open for applications year-round.
444. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a special education teacher application by a school (details supplied); to confirm her Department has received same; when the application will be decided on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54912/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education 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 children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
Budget 2026 has provided funding for 3,000 new special educational places within our education system and the NCSE will now examine where this provision is best placed for the 2026/27 school year.
In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases the number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
My department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to do so.
This notification process will provide the NCSE with valuable information as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post-primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time. The earlier date will allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes by 31 December 2025.
Once the NCSE has fully collated and assessed this information, the NCSE will be in a position to engage with schools across the country to open new special classes. The NCSE will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will be become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.
445. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a CID application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54913/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the application for a contract of indefinite duration (CID) in relation to the teacher referred to has been processed. Correspondence confirming the entitlement to a CID with effect from 11th December 2025 has issued. It should be noted that a CID position is granted by a school only in circumstances where a viable post is available.
446. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently examine the case of a student (details supplied); the status of the bus route assigned to them given Bus Éireann will not answer repeated attempts to contact them; and if she will ensure that suitable transport support is provided to enable regular and safe school attendance. [54919/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if he will urgently examine a case involving a young child (details supplied) with complex medical needs who is currently without access to appropriate school transport; the status of the bus route assigned to the child given repeated unsuccessful attempts by both the family and this Deputy to obtain a response from Bus Éireann; and if he will ensure that suitable transport arrangements are put in place to support the child’s regular and safe attendance at school. [54922/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and Garda vetting clearance of a contractor to operate this service.
Bus Éireann have advised that a contractor has now been sourced and that this pupil commenced on transport on the 08/10/2025.
In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The family has been contacted in this regard.
