953. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning for special class provision is based on forward-looking demographic and geographic data rather than reactive identification of demand at the point of application; if she will outline any planned reforms to improve early identification of need for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond; and i…
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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Showing questions under the heading Special Educational Needs.
2,854 questions match, newest first.
954. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way the travel distance is weighted in the decision-making process when sanctioning new special classes; whether maximum or recommended travel distances for children with additional needs are applied in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43902/26]
968. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken, or plans to undertake, a review of special needs assistant employment contracts to examine whether separate contractual arrangements are warranted for primary, post-primary and special school settings, having regard to differences in working hours, school calendars and duties; and if she will make a statement on …
970. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of assessments of educational needs which were conducted by the NCSE in 2025, by area; the number conducted by the NCSE and the number outsourced; the total amount spent on outsourcing for each of the past five years; and the number of assessments to which this relates, in tabular form. [44155/26]
971. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have undergone an assessment of their health and educational needs via both the NCSE and the HSE, or whether she keeps sufficient records on this matter to ensure efficiency and no duplication of efforts. [44156/26]
972. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the protocols in place to eliminate duplication of assessment efforts by the NCSE and the HSE; the efforts made to streamline this process; the protocols in place to avoid duplication in outsourcing to third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44157/26]
80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of applications made to date to the National Council for Special Education from parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child; the number of applications made since the deadline of 1 October passed; the status of the roll-out of new special class and special school places to meet that need; the number …
81. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the revised 2014 SNA circular, the workforce development plan and SNA redeployment scheme; when these will be published; the consultation that has taken place in creating these documents; if they will genuinely reflect the reality of the role of an SNA in a modern educational environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter…
86. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the SNA review for a school (details supplied) in north Dublin, recognising the uncertainty families are facing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40716/26]
88. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her current views on the availability of special education placements in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/26]
91. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the increasing pressure on schools due to the growing number of students requiring additional care and educational supports; whether her Department is satisfied that current special needs assistant allocations are meeting the needs of students and schools; the steps being taken to increase the number of SNAs available, particularl…
97. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement she has had to date with a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40463/26]
111. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the need for a second special school in the Dublin west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40381/26]
123. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to report on the provision of additional needs education places in the Dublin west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40385/26]
134. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the rollout of inclusive special classes and the progress of the Towards Inclusion Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40751/26]
144. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to address the shortfall in available special school places for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40762/26]
160. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Cork that have had SET hours reduced; and the overall gross reduction. [40071/26]
169. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to report on her Department's work to ensure an appropriate additional needs place for every child who needs it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40384/26]
170. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department will put in place to ensure that schools and families are not placed in the same position in future years (details supplied); if her Department has considered reopening or extending the Summer Programme application portal for schools which were unable to apply due to the narrow application window; and if she will make a sta…
175. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who still require an additional needs school placement for the coming academic year 2026-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39845/26]
181. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether a centralised application system should be created within her Department and operated by the NCSE, similar to the system they use in the Education Authority in Northern Ireland for the allocation of school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39846/26]
184. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a detailed breakdown of children without an appropriate school place for September 2026, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40713/26]
185. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to report on capital investment in the provision of additional needs education supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40387/26]
315. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding special education for the coming academic year. [37946/26]
323. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the expansion of special education provision in Cork North-West in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40860/26]