Written Answers Nos. 242-261
242. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67540/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Department's pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation scheme. The project will provide six general classrooms (three prefab replacement), one Technology room with preparation room, one Science laboratory with preparation area, one Home Economics room, one project store and a four class SEN base.
The Stage 2a Report for the project was received by my department in July 2025 and 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, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
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 1,300 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 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.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the year. 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.
243. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation; the status of temporary accommodation for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67541/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA).
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 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. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.
All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans shortly. My department’s 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.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the school's patron, Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB), agreed a brief in September this year for modular accommodation comprising 3 Mainstream classrooms and ancillary accommodation, and repurposing of existing accommodation to provide 2 Special Education Tuition rooms. It subsequently became apparent that the brief of accommodation could not be delivered on the school site. This was communicated to the patron body in mid-November and on-going contact has been maintained since on next steps. Due to the restricted nature of the school site temporary accommodation is not recommended and this has been communicated to the patron.
The progression of this project will ultimately be considered in the context of the NDP Implementation plan as set out above.
244. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67542/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide four Mainstream Classrooms, two SET Rooms and a two classroom SEN Base under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.
Responsibility for delivery has been devolved to the school authority, which has appointed a design team to manage the project. My Department’s professional and technical team has reviewed the project following the submission of a revised floor plan and additional clarification provided by the design team after a preplanning meeting with Tipperary County Council.
As part of this process, a resubmission of the Stage 1 report was requested prior to progression to the next phase. The Department received the revised Stage 1 report in Q2 2025 which is currently under review. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
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 1,300 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 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.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the year. 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.
245. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the interactions her Department has had with the HSE in terms of the delivery of increased funding for SLT and OT services for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67548/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in Parliamentary Question 53 of the 22nd of October, the provision of clinical therapy services is within the remit of the HSE and HSE funded agencies. In the Education Plan 2025, the government made a commitment to and the approval of the establishment of the Education Therapy Service (ETS). This is not to replace HSE services but rather to compliment existing supports recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.
As previously advised, it is anticipated that the ETS will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year and will be supported by a panel of 90 therapists comprising of senior and staff grades. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to further special schools commencing in the 2026/27 school year. In time, it is intended that this service will be available to schools with special classes and mainstream schools.
It is envisioned that school selection for the initial phase will be completed in the 2025 school year to ensure that selected schools have the opportunity to engage with the ETS prior to therapist assignment.
In addition to the ETS, the ETSS, which will be subsumed into the ETS, currently provides two strands of support, Regional Therapy and Sustained In-School Therapy to both mainstream and special schools.
I understand officials in the department are aware of and have discussed this school and its associated needs with colleagues in the HSE National Disability Office. However based on the current model of service of the ETS, my department is not in a position to provide funding for therapy supports in this school at this time.
My Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
246. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an educational facility (details supplied) is required to attain examinations centre status in order for students to submit coursework for Leaving Certificate 2026 in light of the recent guidance in the Coursework Rules & Procedures 2025-2026 issued by the State Examinations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67616/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examination Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the State certificate examinations.
In view of this, I have asked the SEC to respond directly to you with the information you have requested.
247. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the application by a school (details supplied) under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67624/25]
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 that, 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.
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. In November 2025, my colleague the former Minister of Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, announced the first tranche of approvals under the new Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. 297 projects were approved to proceed and involve primary, post primary and special schools, along with projects in all counties and across all categories of works.
My Department can confirm an application was received from the school in question however the school was not on the list of approvals in the first tranche. Given that funding is limited in any particular year it is necessary to prioritise applications. Under the new climate action summer works scheme which operates on a multi-annual basis, like previous summer works schemes, applications from schools that are not reached for funding or market prioritisation reasons in 2026 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available for climate action summer works in subsequent years.
It is anticipated that the next tranche of approvals will be in the latter half of 2026.
Full details of the of the announcement and the list of schools approved in the first tranche, the Circular (0029/2025) for the scheme and guidance documents for schools can be found at the below link; www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/summer-works-scheme/.
248. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way the National Convention on Education will ensure that underrepresented voices; e.g. students with special educational needs, marginalized communities, rural stakeholders and so on; are included meaningfully in its deliberations. [67642/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra249. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps which will be taken to guarantee geographical diversity within the National Convention on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67643/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra250. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a detailed working plan and timeline for the National Convention on Education. [67644/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra251. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plan for when the National Convention on Education recommendations are submitted to ensure they are implemented by the Department of Education and Youth. [67645/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra252. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a monitoring body or follow-up committee will track progress on implementation, including regular updates to the Oireachtas and public. [67646/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 252, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, last July it was announced that a National Convention on Education would be established, bringing together all stakeholders in education. I am determined that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to share their thoughts about the future of education, both locally and nationally.
Planning for the Convention is ongoing, including the list of people and organisations who will be participating, and further information will be made available in due course. I am working with my officials to develop this exciting, once in a generation opportunity for everyone living in Ireland to have their say on the future of education
I am committed to ensuring that this Convention will reflect the Ireland of today, in all its diversity, and in particular the voices of children and young people, their parents and guardians, and education stakeholders. This will include ensuring diversity of voice in the Convention, as well as ensuring representation is heard from the wide range of all those with a stake in our education system.
With this in mind, ahead of the Convention, we will be launching the first ever National Conversation on Education with school communities and national stakeholders. The National Conversation will allow all citizens and groups to get involved and have their say on the future of education, through surveys and submissions, school community engagements, and regional events. This Conversation will also include outreach to seldom-heard, marginalised voices.
The National conversation will inform what changes may be needed to the education landscape to help ensure responsiveness of the system to children and young people’s needs over the years and decades to come, to reflect on how best to provide for what is working well and to examine what needs to be changed.
The findings from the National Conversation will inform the agenda for the Convention, which in turn will be agreed by Government. The work of the Convention will then inform the development of a long-term education strategy.
253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is permissible for a public school to require a monetary payment deposit to maintain an application open for the school; if this has been communicated to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67651/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, is an important piece of legislation which has introduced a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. The legislation is part of a suite of measures taken to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system.
Section 64 of the act prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school. Exceptions are included in relation to fee charging post-primary schools, the boarding element in boarding schools and admission to post leaving cert or further education courses run by post-primary schools.
If the Deputy is aware of a school(s) charging fees, that are prohibited by section 64, they can inform my Department, who will follow up with the school(s) concerned.
254. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the concerns raised by a parent (details supplied) who’s child has so far failed to secure an infant place in their local schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67652/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
TUSLA’s Education Support Service (TESS) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
Contact details for TESS are available at the following link www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie.
255. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth when assistive technology will be provided to a child (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67653/25]
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.
A decision letter granting the funding was issued to the school on the 26th of November 2025.
256. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the procedures for allocating the number of posts of responsibility and the remuneration for principalship and deputy principalship within special schools, as at present only the number of teachers employed directly by the board is recognised by the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67654/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department actively engages with the representative bodies for special schools, in order to help to address some of these additional challenges these schools face over their mainstream counterparts.
Following close engagement with special schools and awareness of the challenges they face, a number of new measures have been introduced to support them. Firstly, the appointment of new posts for administrative deputy principals in all special schools has been instrumental in assisting principals with leadership and management functions and to support learning and parental and community engagement.
Secondly, the allocation of 100 post-primary teaching posts to ensure a greater range of the national curriculum subjects can be taught to improve student progression and transition.
There has also been an increase in funding to ensure that the Summer Programme continues to expand for students with special educational needs.
In addition to these budgetary measures, my Department is also working closely with the NCSE to further support special schools in relation to a range of issues relating to administration, curriculum and training.
My department and the NCSE will continue to support all schools including special schools to ensure we deliver an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
I recognise the key role school leadership plays in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which has ensured that the current level of Posts of Responsibility (POR’s) is maintained in the school system. New POR threshold tables are produced each year to distribute these PORs equitably across all schools. Currently one in three teachers hold a promotional post within our schools.
Recent Budgets have provided for an additional 1000 posts of responsibility at both primary level and post-primary level. 500 AP II posts were allocated to primary schools in the 2024/25 school year. For the 2025/26 school year, the equivalent of 500 AP II posts is being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all PORs in primary schools. Any further improvement would have to be considered in the context of the overall budgetary process.
The Public Service Agreement PSA 2024-2024 provides for a local bargaining process to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims. Any additional amendments to teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the Public Service unions. This is one of the matters that may come under consideration under the local bargaining provision of the PSA 2024-2026 and as matters under industrial relations processes are confidential to the parties it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this time.
257. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that every child with additional needs is guaranteed a suitable school placement, given the severe shortage of places in special schools in County Mayo.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to expand special school capacity in County Mayo; and the timeline and resources that have been allocated for additional classrooms and staff. [67656/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department will take to address the growing demand for special school places in County Mayo. [67657/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra260. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the analysis that has been carried out to project the demand for special school places over the next five years, and if the Minister will publish that projected analysis. [67658/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 260, inclusive, together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.
407 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 3 are in County Mayo, all at primary level.
This brings to 76 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 4 special schools in County Mayo with approximately 161 students enrolled.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department 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.
There continues to be an increasing need to provide additional special school places to support students with complex needs. To meet this need, sixteen new special schools have been established in recent years, and capacity has been expanded in a number of others. Five of these were established for the 2025/26 school year in counties, Cork, Dublin (2), Monaghan and Tipperary.
The department and NCSE have already begun planning in relation to further expanding special school capacity for the 2026/27 school year. It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required each year for the coming years.
When looking to provide additional capacity the department’s preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible. Where this is not possible in a region, the department and NCSE will consider the need to establish a new special school.
In planning for increased special school places, my department and the NCSE review all of the available data on the growing need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools in a region to expand.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for students with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation in County Mayo and indeed nationwide as to where new special schools are required.
261. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the procedures for allocating the number of posts of responsibility and the remuneration for principalship and deputy principalship within special schools, as at present only the number of teachers employed directly by the Board is recognised by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67659/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continue to review policy and introduce new initiatives to ensure that all students are provided an appropriate education and are supported to reach their full potential and achieve their educational goals.
The current pay agreement, Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026, contains a local bargaining provision under which employers and trade unions/associations may negotiate additional changes in rates of pay and/or conditions of employment.
As remuneration for principalships and deputy principalship and allocation to posts of responsibility are some of the matters that may come under consideration under the local bargaining provision of the PSA 2024-2026 and as such matters under industrial relations processes are confidential to the parties it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment while it remains under consideration.
