Dáil
Education and Training Provision
Údarás na Gaeltachta is assessing tenders for a planned state-of-the-art multipurpose educational facility; details remain confidential to protect the process.
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Dáil
Strategic Infrastructure
Swords’ rapid housing growth is being outpaced by transport, wastewater and community infrastructure, with calls for stronger co-ordination, while Government says major projects and funding are already under way to support sustainable development.
Dáil
Schools Building Projects
Bunclody Community College’s long-delayed redevelopment, still at stage 2b with most classrooms in prefabs and a split campus, drew calls for urgent action, but the Minister offered no timeline beyond ongoing review and future prioritisation.
Dáil
Schools Building Projects
St. John Bosco junior and senior boys’ schools and Mary, Help of Christians girls’ school’s long-delayed campus redevelopment remains under Department review, with co-education survey results prompting further engagement and the project to be considered in NDP prioritisation.
Dáil
Period products in schools
Deputy Keogh highlighted the humiliation and practical difficulties faced by girls who lack easy access to period products in schools. The Tánaiste said access should not depend on asking an authority figure and promised further engagement with the relevant Ministers.
Dáil
School transport tickets and capacity
Michael Fitzmaurice raised recurring problems with school bus tickets, especially for children already on concessionary places, and asked the Tánaiste to intervene. The Tánaiste acknowledged the issue, said the scheme remains in need of reform, and pointed to increased spending as evidence of commitment.
Seanad
Special classes notification portal
Senator Scahill outlined the NCSE parents-notify portal, explaining the deadlines are meant to help plan special class places and budgets for 2027-28.
Seanad
Assessment of need delays
Senator O'Reilly backed Senator Harmon and described the crisis in assessments of need for families in Cavan and Monaghan, where a child was left waiting despite an early intervention preschool place.
Seanad
Philosophy as leaving cert subject
Senator Comyn asked for a future debate or Commencement matter on adding philosophy to the leaving certificate, arguing it has practical value for students in the AI era.
Dáil
Education Policy
Updated SPHE curriculum now covers consent, healthy relationships and abuse at junior and senior cycle, with phased rollout to 2027 and extensive teacher training, while calls were made to move the content earlier and strengthen student engagement.
Dáil
School Transport
School transport eligibility and ticket shortages were raised as causing major family stress, with the Minister saying Bus Éireann and the Department are working to improve allocation, use spare capacity better and ensure tickets go to those most in need.
Dáil
Schools Refurbishment
The Minister outlined climate-action school refurbishment funding, with 297 projects approved and the next tranche due October 2026, while promising to follow up on Thurles and Nenagh school applications.
Dáil
Industrial Relations
Minister of State Michael Moynihan defended the new special needs assistant workforce development plan, noted Fórsa’s rejection, and said the Department remains committed to further constructive engagement rather than reversing the plan.
Dáil
Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta
Funding and planning for an Tuairín i mBéal an Daingin school extension remain under review at stage 2b, with no firm timeline yet, while the Department says priority will go to urgent special-education accommodation and other ready projects.
Dáil
Schools Building Projects
Dublin Mid-West school building projects were reviewed, with Scoil Chrónáin’s tender progressing, Lucan Community College phases advancing, and the Department promising future prioritisation for urgent, overcrowded and condition-affected schools.
Seanad
School Accommodation
Coláiste Daibhéid’s urgent accommodation project remains in the ASA pipeline under review, with roof-leak safety concerns acknowledged, but no firm delivery date given beyond prioritisation in 2026-27 and possible tendering thereafter.
Joint Committee on Education and Youth
Allocation, Roles, and Training Needs of Special Education Teachers and Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (Resumed)
Officials outlined how inclusive education is being supported through rising numbers of special education teachers and SNAs, with further increases planned, alongside training from the Department, NCSE, NEPS and Oide. The main emphasis was on clearer roles, better induction and continuing professional learning, and more structured support for SNAs and teachers in mainstream, special class and special school settings. Members raised concerns about class size, assistive technology, NEPS capacity, the September parent-notify portal and how schools can meet growing needs without overreliance on individual staff. The Department and NCSE said the new inclusive education forum and revised workforce plans will be used to develop shared understanding and improve practice, while avoiding comment on live negotiations with Fórsa.
Dáil
Educational Disadvantage
The issue was whether Sacred Heart school, Granard, should be included in DEIS plus despite exclusion from the initial list, with the Minister insisting the appeal is limited to national enrolment-data checks and will be decided shortly.
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Business of Committee
The committee welcomed new member Deputy Martin Daly, agreed the minutes, and noted several accounts and correspondence. It highlighted serious issues in the Tusla accounts over non-compliant procurement and the ISIF loss of €2.5 million from a fraud, and agreed to write for further detail on both. Members were highly critical of IFI’s spend of over €70,000, excluding VAT, on media-training and legal preparation for a PAC appearance, and agreed to seek wider information from Departments and agencies on pre-hearing training costs. The committee also published its interim report on the national children’s science centre, calling for urgent Government intervention and no further public funding until a full review is done.
Seanad
FTD brothers fundraiser
The Chair welcomed students to the Gallery, and Senator Costello and Senator Nelson Murray praised the Adams brothers' marathon challenge to raise awareness and funds for frontotemporal dementia. Senator Nelson Murray also began to mention Navan rail at the end of her contribution.
Seanad
Safe routes to school
Senator Nelson Murray described unsafe school routes at several Meath schools and the need for safer travel for children.