Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

872. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of special education places currently available in Cork city; the location of these places by primary school, secondary school, special school and so on; if these places are within an ASD unit, special class or mainstream class; and the discipline related to each of these places, for example, severe intellectual disability, mild to moderate intellectual disability and so on. [14679/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

873. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools with ASD units in Cork city. [14680/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

874. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools with ASD units in Cork city. [14681/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

875. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of special schools in Cork city. [14682/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

876. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children on waiting lists for access to special schools in Cork city, both in primary and secondary schools. [14683/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

877. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children on waiting lists for access to ASD units in Cork city, in both primary and secondary schools. [14684/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

879. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when the outcome of appeals lodged after the release of the results of the written leaving certificate 2020 exams in February 2021 will be released. [14726/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

891. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if permission to travel outside five kilometres for educational purposes extends to families that home-school their children and must travel to access a network of other home-schooling families, for educational trips and to access educational resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14888/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

892. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if guidance on continuation of education during level 5 restrictions will be provided for families that provide schooling to their children from home all year round; and if not, the reason such guidance is not being provided (details supplied). [14889/21]

Vaccination Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1633. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if persons on combined therapies and at very high risk are within group 4 on the vaccination schedule; and if not, when they will receive the vaccine. [14879/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1666. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered allowing dental hygienists to participate in the national roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations as vaccinators. [15027/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

99. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if assurances will be given that the early intervention class programme for ASD preschool children will not be stopped or defunded; the details of her plans to continue to support children with additional needs and ensure their needs are addressed at the earliest stage possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13601/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

100. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the reason the leaving certificate guidance issued by her Department at the beginning of March 2021 requested that teachers will demonstrate that no two students are placed on the same estimated percentage mark leaving teachers to continue to put students in a ranked order in 2021 in view of the fact that assurances were given that students would not be ranked within their classes in 2021; and the further reason it is not possible for two students to be given the same mark. [13604/21]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

101. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the status of plans to provide a new building for a school (details supplied); if a site has been agreed; if so, the name and location of same; and when construction will commence. [13608/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

105. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the provisions that will be put in place to ensure that children in emergency or homeless accommodation whose families may find it difficult to facilitate a home tutor can still take part in the summer provision programme. [13682/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

106. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the details of the planning that has taken place to date for 2021 summer provision programme. [13683/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

107. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will consider putting together a centralised database of teachers and special needs assistants who are willing to provide tuition for families as part of the summer provision programme in order to prevent issues that occur each year with families struggling to find a tutor. [13684/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

108. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if a copy will be provided of the public health advice from NPHET on the phased return of the various year groups back into school buildings; if this advice made specific reference to the leaving certificate year group sixth years.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13687/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

109. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if those who will leave school in June 2021 after the junior cycle will be furnished with State certification of completion of this qualification to allow them to progress with their future careers. [13688/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

110. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the use of half-days or alternating days attendance when first and fourth year students return to school on 12 April 2021; and the reason this has not been advised. [13689/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

112. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the entry criteria for language classes for children with severe speech, language and communication needs has not been reviewed since 2005; if she will engage with an association (details supplied) that has called for an end to the two year cap on placements in language classes; and if she will review the entry criteria for language classes. [13704/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

113. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to ensure that students attending Gaelcholáistí who complete their leaving certificate through Irish are not disadvantaged as a result, particularly in the Irish exam; and if assurances will be given that these students will not be unfairly downgraded in their Irish exam. [13721/21]

Educational Disadvantage

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

490. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she is committed to tackling educational disadvantage as per her press release of 1 March 2021 (details supplied); if so, if she will reverse the decision taken to reduce the staffing numbers for the next academic year at a school; and if not, the reason the school will lose two members of staff at a time when educational support is most needed by its students. [12607/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

541. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will give a clear direction that parents dropping and collecting children from school grounds should wear masks while doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13331/21]

Legal Aid

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

687. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the value of criminal legal aid claimed by county under each of the various criminal legal aid schemes in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [12559/21]

Legal Aid

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

688. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that were granted criminal legal aid by county under each of the various criminal legal aid schemes in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [12560/21]

Legal Aid

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

689. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice the amount of legal aid paid to each supplier (details supplied) under each of the various criminal legal aid schemes in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [12561/21]

Health Services Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

734. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure age appropriate treatment can be provided to a person (details supplied). [13407/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

738. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if a family (details supplied) can be permitted to complete construction works on their house by putting in windows and doors in order that the property can be made secure to prevent any further damage to their belongings. [12489/21]

Vaccination Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

193. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the position of Irish Sign language home tutors on the Covid-19 vaccination schedule; and when those who teach Irish sign language within students’ homes can expect to receive the vaccine particularly those in the profession who have asthma. [12229/21]

Vaccination Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

210. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the position of school bus escorts for children with special educational needs on the vaccination schedule; and when school bus escorts who are back working in school settings can expect to receive the vaccine. [12285/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

212. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if a family (details supplied) will be permitted to have a kitchen fitted in their home given that they are currently without a kitchen. [12289/21]

DEIS Scheme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

420. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when she plans to extend the one point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio as set out in budget 2021 to all DEIS band 1 schools; and if not, the reason. [11265/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

433. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when special schools will reopen at 100% capacity. [11343/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

457. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her plans to support very high risk and high-risk staff with medical vulnerabilities who are anxious regarding the reopening of schools. [11604/21]

School Equipment

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

458. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the updated guidance on ventilation for schools; and the details of the considerations she has given to the installation of air monitoring systems in schools. [11605/21]

School Transport

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

459. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the updated plans in place to ensure that school transport is safe upon the return of schools on 1 March 2021. [11606/21]

School Curriculum

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

460. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the details of the actions she is taking to progress the reform of relationship and sexuality education in schools. [11623/21]

Magdalen Laundries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

594. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive the full health services equivalent to those provided under the health amendment act card as recommended by the Quirke report. [11554/21]

Third Level Admissions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

643. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of offers for places in third-level institutions given to students who sat the leaving certificate exams in November 2020 and received improved results; and the courses or subject areas in which these offers were given, that is, medicine, engineering, law, dentistry, arts and so on in tabular form. [11946/21]

Third Level Education

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

644. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the offers given out after results were issued to students who sat the leaving certificate exams in November 2020 constituted additional places in these third-level institutions; and if not, if they were within the general number of places available for entry in September 2021. [11947/21]

Magdalen Laundries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

860. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the full health services equivalent to those provided under the Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card as recommended by the Quirke report and agreed to. [11555/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

869. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if an unaccompanied minor (details supplied) will be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival here. [11603/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

168. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the deadline can be extended for applications from external candidates to sit the leaving certificate in 2021 in view of the extraordinary circumstances of Covid-19 and the recent decision on the leaving certificate. [10752/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

400. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the issues facing a special school (details supplied) that is finding it increasingly difficult to find places for its students in mainstream settings in secondary schools in its local area; and the steps she will take to ensure that children attending special schools are not disadvantaged by the feeder school admission policy in secondary schools. [9399/21]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

430. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if schools can be afforded autonomy in circumstances in which they are willing to do so to provide the 20-hour supplementary programme in the school setting during school hours for children with additional needs attending mainstream classes. [9639/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

431. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when students who left school after completing the school-based junior cycle assessment in 2020 will receive their State certificate of completion of the junior cycle from her Department; and if no student who left school after this junior cycle programme will be disadvantaged in taking up apprenticeships due to the fact that they have not yet received this certificate. [9641/21]

Literacy Programmes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

510. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on whether children who attend literacy classes in a school setting for support with reading and writing have missed out on this support as schools have been closed; and if the difficulties these children have experienced without these in-school supports will be kept in mind during discussions on the reopening of school buildings. [10415/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

516. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if students who opt for State Examinations Commission-accredited grades in language subjects and not to sit a written exam but who excel in the oral component of this subject can be afforded the option of taking an informal oral exam with their teacher which will help form the basis of this SEC-accredited grade. [10437/21]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

517. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if students will be given a period of time before the exams begin on 9 June 2021 to solely study and prepare for these exams without being expected to submit additional work to form the basis of their SEC-accredited grades. [10438/21]