Questions asked 49 total

• Education 37 questions

  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has considered using external training providers to train teachers and school staff in special education schools or settings. [54620/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will avail of external training providers to use a more targeted approach to train teachers and staff in special education, rather than a one size fits all approach. [54621/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the Departmental funding allocation for youth affairs for 2026; if she can provide a breakdown of this funding in terms of existing levels of service, new development measures and capital funding; if she can provide a detailed breakdown of the €8 million additional funding to youth affairs being made available in Budget 2026, in terms of capital and current; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55214/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million invested in school therapies in Budget 2026; and the number of SLTs and OTs she expects to provide, broken down by primary and post primary school. [55283/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated in budget 2026 for the minor work grant, ICT grant, solar PV grant and climate action summer works scheme. [55284/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the DEIS plan currently supports 260,000 people; and the number of additional people the DEIS Plus programme will support. [55285/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated in budget 2026 for the DEIS plan and DEIS Plus programme. [55286/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional schools that will receive the extra €20 capitation grant because they are classed as DEIS urban band 1; and the amount of such funding. [55287/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the increase in capitation grant to €406 for children in special schools once they turn 12 will come into effect; and the number of special schools that will receive this. [55288/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to train teachers on how to deliver leaving certificate reform. [55289/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to train teachers on how to deliver primary school curriculum reform. [55290/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline who will provide the training to teachers to deliver Leaving Certificate reform and primary school curriculum reform. [55291/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the €3 billion in funding provided to special education in Budget 2026, the amount that is for existing levels of service and the amount for new measures. [55292/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million allocated in Budget 2026 to school-based therapies in special schools; when special classes and mainstream schools will start receiving these therapies; and when schools will receive this funding. [55313/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of the €48 million allocated in Budget 2026 to DEIS plus that is for new measures; the amount which is for existing levels of service; and if this funding is available immediately or from September 2026. [55314/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she expects the implementation of DEIS Plus in the fourth quarter of 2025. [55315/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the increase in the capitation grant by €50 for primary schools and €20 for post-primary will not come into effect until September 2026; the measures in place for schools for winter 2025 if they continue to struggle with costs. [55316/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is the case that of the 1,042 additional teachers provided for in Budget 2026, 860 are special education teachers to cover special schools and special classes in mainstream schools; and if that means there is only an additional 182 mainstream teachers. [55317/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional teachers needed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio by one point; and the reason her Department has failed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in classrooms by even one point, as budget 2026 only provides an additional 182 mainstream teachers. [55318/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €8 million provided for the youth sector in budget 2026; and the amount specifically for capital projects. [55319/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the €69 million funding provided for the school transport scheme in 2025, the amount that is to maintain existing levels of service; and the amount that is for new measures. [55320/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional children who will be able to avail of the school transport scheme following budget 2026. [55321/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to curriculum development; the amount that will be for Leaving Certificate reform; and the amount that will be for primary school curriculum reform. [55322/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €3 million allocation in budget 2026 to provide additional deputy principals in primary and post-primary schools; and the number of additional deputy principals are expected to be hired, broken down by primary and post-primary level. [55323/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers she hopes to have working in the education system by 2030. [55324/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the roll-out of school therapies is not coming into place with immediate effect following Budget 2026. [55325/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the 2025 carryover in the Budget 2026 measures. [55385/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the financial breakdown of the key policy adjustments and expansion of services in Budget 2026. [55386/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Irish medium schools in the Gaeltacht regions in Donegal who did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T1 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students which received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55452/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Irish medium schools in Donegal outside of the Gaeltacht areas which did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T1 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students which received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55453/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in non-Irish medium or Gaeltacht schools in Donegal who did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T2 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students who received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55454/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a higher marking criteria for students who take the Junior Cycle Irish T1 exam than the T2 exam. [55455/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware there appears to be a higher standard of marking for Junior Cycle students taking the Irish T1 exam than those taking the Irish T2 exam; and her views on whether this will influence parent’s decisions to send their children to an Irish medium school or if they will be more likely to attend an English speaking school. [55456/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that only 7% of students in Irish medium schools and schools in the Gaeltacht received a distinction in the Junior Cycle Irish exam; and the measures she is taking to improve these numbers. [55457/25]
  • 2025-10-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Budget 2026 commitment (details supplied) that ‘80 school buildings will progress to construction across 2026 & 2027 as part of 2-year rolling programme and progression of 300 school building projects currently in construction’, if she will provide a list of those schools, and the type and stage of development in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56011/25]
  • 2025-10-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a new IT system for school payroll systems; the scope and stage of development of this system and the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56013/25]
  • 2025-10-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a school (details supplied) in Cork has a critically low level of SNA support and has reduced the timetable of children in the school to three and four days a week, which will greatly upset their heavily relied upon routine; and the measures she will take to ensure there is adequate SNA support available for the school to run normally. [56139/25]
• Taoiseach 3 questions

  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [50085/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [50086/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [53071/25]
• Children 2 questions

  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the person or body which is responsible for overseeing the operation of residential care services in a housing estate (details supplied); and the options available to local residents if they are affected by issues related to that service, such as anti-social behaviour, physical threats vandalism of property, and so on.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55140/25]
  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assessments carried out when identifying residential care service centres for minors; and the criteria that must be met for a property to be approved as one of these residential care service centres for minors. [55141/25]
• Further and Higher Education 2 questions

  • 2025-10-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline his investment plan for research in the area of artificial intelligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54274/25]
  • 2025-10-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on a new building for college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54273/25]
• Rural 2 questions

  • 2025-10-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when another round of category 1 funding for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will be announced; the criteria that will apply; the measures in place, to ensure a fair distribution of funds; the date on which applications will open and close; if projects which were previously unsuccessful will be allowed re-submit, such as the Dunshaughlin courthouse and town centre project in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54275/25]
  • 2025-10-16 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding available through his Department for community festivals such as, for example, Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival in County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54276/25]
• Housing 1 question

  • 2025-10-14 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 1 July 2025, if he will provide an update on the homes in County Meath seeking inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the number of properties being assessed; the timeline for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55138/25]
• Social 1 question

  • 2025-10-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of carers allowance and is working 18.5 hours is paid by their employer for their break times and are included as working hours; the measures her Department uses to ensure that the person is not subject to repayments or review when not physically working during their lunch break. [55877/25]
• Health 1 question

  • 2025-10-15 Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the new laboratory IT system (details supplied) ; the length of time this system has been in development, the timeline for rollout, the cost of this project to date, and the expected total cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56012/25]