326. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of meetings held with special needs assistants and their representative organisations during the development of the SNA workforce development plan; whether direct consultation took place with frontline SNAs; and if she will provide details of the consultation process. [47165/26]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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327. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the considerations given to the importance of continuity of relationships between special needs assistants and pupils with additional educational needs when developing the proposed allocation and redeployment arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47166/26]
328. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has undertaken an assessment of recruitment and retention challenges within the special needs assistant workforce; whether the proposed circular is expected to improve retention rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47167/26]
329. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that special needs assistants are being asked under the proposed SNA workforce development plan to undertake expanded duties, mandatory professional development and increased workplace flexibility without any corresponding commitment to enhanced pay, allowances or career progression opportunities; and if she will make a statement on th…
330. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to deliver school transport for the July provision programme at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47169/26]
331. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for a delay in the sanctioning of home based hours for July provision as opposed to last year; when these hours will be sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47170/26]
332. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a new special school at a location (details supplied); the number of places that will be available; the enrolment procedures; if staff have been hired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47205/26]
333. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any consideration was given during the development of the SNA workforce development plan to the introduction of additional remuneration, allowances or incremental payments for special needs assistants in recognition of expanded duties and mandatory professional development requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47226/26]
334. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of hours of mandatory training and professional development that will be required of special needs assistants under the proposed revised circular; whether these hours will be compensated through additional pay, time off in lieu or other measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47227/26]
335. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the requirement for special needs assistants to complete an additional 72 hours outside normal school attendance days was reviewed as part of the SNA workforce development plan; the rationale for retaining this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47228/26]
336. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants redeployed between schools in each of the past five school years; the number anticipated to be redeployed under the new allocation model; her views on the impact of redeployment on continuity of support for children with additional educational needs.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47229/26]
337. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration was given to the introduction of qualification-based increments or allowances for special needs assistants holding level six, level seven, level eight or postgraduate qualifications relevant to their role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47230/26]
338. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment undertaken of the impact of the proposed SNA allocation model on small primary schools with a single SNA post; and the mechanisms available where additional needs arise during the school year. [47231/26]
339. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the revised SNA allocation model will ensure that autistic and other neurodivergent pupils whose needs relate primarily to communication, emotional regulation, social interaction or school attendance can access appropriate support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47232/26]
340. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment of the SNA workforce development plan; whether such assessment examined the impact on pupils with disabilities and additional educational needs; and if she will publish the findings. [47233/26]
341. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated annual cost of implementing the SNA workforce development plan; the additional funding allocated for training, professional development and implementation supports; and if she will provide a breakdown of these costs. [47234/26]
342. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the detailed delivery plan, including timelines and key milestones, for the full modular build comprising of 14 classrooms and associated facilities to address the accommodation crisis at a school (details supplied); the expected date for the completion of the design and planning stage; and the projected date for delivery and occupation of the new …
343. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a school (details supplied) is currently operating beyond its accommodation capacity, given that its special education teaching room is being used as a mainstream classroom, that SET teachers are being required to provide support in unsuitable spaces, and that enrolment numbers have had to be restricted due to lack of accommoda…
344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if provision will be made to allow parents to transfer from school-based July provision to home-based July provision in circumstances where parents enrolled in the school-based programme in good faith, but the school is now unable to provide the programme due to staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/26]
345. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a decision will be made for a school transport application for a child (details supplied) to travel on SEN transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47299/26]
346. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a Stage B review for a school (details supplied) will be completed; the expected date for the school to be given approval to proceed to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47300/26]
347. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason special needs assistants are required to attend in-service training courses in their own time outside of school hours, without receiving either leave in lieu or monetary payment; if she will review the mechanism for the provision of such courses for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47316/26]
348. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the 2026 Leaving Certificate biology higher paper concerning a question on genetics (details sup[plied), [47319/26]
349. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if alternative funding has been arranged for the STEM engagement officer and the STEM programme in County Laois; if she recognises the positive contribution made by this role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47353/26]
350. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school sexual abuse related claims which have been lodged with the State Claims Agency, from 2014 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of said claims which were settled out of court over the same time period; in tabular form. [47357/26]