624. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has engaged with the National Council for Special Education on the potential implications of the new SNA guidelines for children with disabilities who no longer qualify for direct SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58692/25]
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
Browse the questions
Showing questions asked by Barry Heneghan .
251 questions match, newest first.
671. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the DEIS banding for a school (details supplied) given that over 20% of pupils are living in IPAS or emergency accommodation and 26% live in the North East Inner City (NEIC) area; when the next DEIS review will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58104/25]
672. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider extending North East Inner City (NEIC) or City Connects inclusion to a school (details supplied), given the school's pupil profile and the fact that its feeder schools already hold DEIS 1 status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58105/25]
673. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a school (details supplied), operates a junior autism class without access to peer integration with junior infants, senior infants, or first class pupils; if she will work with the NCSE to address this in line with inclusion best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58106/25]
674. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional staffing or resource supports will be considered for a school (details supplied), given the exceptionally high proportion of pupils living in emergency and IPAS accommodation, the current exclusion from DEIS 1 and North East Inner City (NEIC) supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58107/25]
711. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the proposed development works at a school (details supplied); the status of the application for additional classrooms and facilities for children with additional needs; if the lack of a school hall is being considered as part of any future building or extension plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…
748. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale behind the recent changes introduced by the National Council for Special Education to the role and allocation criteria for special needs assistants; if she will provide details of the consultation carried out with SNA representatives or school management prior to its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [586…
749. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the potential impact of the revised NCSE guidelines for special needs assistants on pupils who do not meet the new criteria of ‘primary care needs’ but who continue to require daily classroom support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58688/25]
750. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that changes to the SNA allocation model do not result in a reduction of supports for pupils with moderate or non-medical additional needs, including those requiring sensory breaks or behavioural assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58689/25]
751. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the communication strategy used by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to inform special needs assistants, principals, and boards of management of recent changes to SNA responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58690/25]
752. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new SNA posts announced for the 2025-2026 school year; if she will confirm whether any concurrent reductions or reallocations of existing SNA positions will occur as a result of the new NCSE guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58691/25]
753. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps which are being taken to ensure job security and professional recognition for special needs assistants, in view of concerns that the NCSE may redefine their role and responsibilities without consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58693/25]
792. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria currently used to approve exemptions from studying Irish (primary and secondary); the timeframes these criteria are audited or reviewed by her Department, the steps being taken to ensure consistency and fairness across schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58938/25]
793. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has evaluated the impact of the rising number of Irish exemptions on bilingual policy goals, Irish language proficiency targets; and if her Department plans to propose reforms (e.g. differentiated instruction, optional exam modes, or phased reduction) to reverse exemption growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58939/25]
794. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports (special education resources, differentiated curricula, teaching methods) which are provided to students with learning difficulties or literacy challenges to enable them to continue Irish rather than be exempted; the number of such supports which have been funded in the past three years; the plans which exist to expand them; and if she…
795. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to commission an independent review of the exemption system for Irish in schools (primary and secondary), including its impacts on language retention and equity; the terms of reference that review will have; and the timeframe for when it will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58941/25]
920. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the additional resources being allocated to strengthen mental health supports within schools, including counselling, NEPS services and wellbeing programmes; if her Department plans to extend in-school mental health supports to primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60101/25]
921. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the shortage of special needs assistants across the education system; if regional or national workforce planning has been carried out to meet rising demand; the measures being taken to improve recruitment and retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60102/25]
923. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department plans to formally recognise school assistance dogs within the implementation framework of the forthcoming National Human Rights Strategy 2025–2030 under Pillar One, Inclusive Learning and Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60115/25]
924. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider expanding the school assistance dog pilot programme to additional schools nationwide, ensuring regional balance and independent evaluation of outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60116/25]
925. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine the way in which school assistance dogs can be integrated as complementary supports within the new education therapy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60117/25]
201. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures currently in place to ensure compliance with the right of children to opt out of religious instruction, and that suitable alternative educational activities are provided in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54537/25]
999. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will publish the list of schools within Dublin 3, 5, 13 and 17 that are awaiting major works approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46907/25]
1043. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of her Department’s policy on the way in which schools funded by the State should facilitate parents who wish to withdraw their children from religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47430/25]
1044. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have reported having formal procedures in place to give effect to parents' wishes to withdraw their children from religious instruction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47431/25]