1138. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures which are currently in place to facilitate access to an additional year of education for students in special schools with the highest level of need; whether exemptions or other administrative arrangements are used for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74806/25]
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 under the heading Special Educational Needs.
63 questions match, newest first.
425. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of personnel employed across all State agencies who support special education in post primary schools (details supplied); the total annual expenditure associated with these roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71387/25]
428. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers currently working in special education teaching roles hold a recognised qualification in special education; if she will provide this information in tabular form; if the Department plans to expand conversion or upskilling routes; the training is provided to external professionals who work with schools; and if she will make a s…
469. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parents who have submitted a notification to the NCSE by the 1 October deadline requesting a special school place for the 2026-2027 school year in Dublin, by postcode, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71947/25]
901. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of personnel employed across all State agencies who support special education in post-primary schools (details supplied); the total annual expenditure associated with these roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71388/25]
914. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if a cross departmental cost analysis has been undertaken of total expenditure across the National Council for Special Education, Oide, the National Educational Psychological Service, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, children’s disability network teams and primary care teams; if she will provide any available expenditure data, in tabular form; if re…
328. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin Bay North awaiting a special school place for the school year beginning in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67165/25]
329. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin Bay North awaiting an autism school place for the school year beginning in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67166/25]
330. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of sanctioned autism classes in Dublin Bay North that are scheduled to open for the start of the school term in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67167/25]
178. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students currently supported by reading schools or specialist classes for severe dyslexia, by region and by local authority area, in tabular form; the projected future demand for such provision; the planned timeline for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66490/25]
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]
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]
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]
1117. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will expedite the expansion of the provision of special classes in mainstream post-primary schools for students with mild intellectual disabilities, including those with Down syndrome; if she is aware of the difficulties families are facing in securing appropriate placements for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter…
1118. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will develop a dedicated strategy to ensure that children with Down syndrome who require a place in a special class in a mainstream school are appropriately accommodated; if she acknowledges that the current system is not meeting the needs of this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42415/25]
1255. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the special educational accommodations, such as rest facilities, flexible scheduling or assisted learning support that have been implemented in schools for students diagnosed with narcolepsy post-pandemrix vaccination; whether additional funding is planned to support these students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43822/25]
118. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of speech and language therapists assigned to schools in Dublin for each year from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40200/25]