Questions

269. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline plans to fund a panel of 20+ dyslexia support specialists throughout the country to carry out dyslexia assessments and support children with dyslexia in schools across the country; the way in which such specialists with the required credentials and experience can apply for such roles; when such roles will be advertised; and where they wi…

302. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth when school transport will be arranged for three children with additional needs, two of whom have been unable to attend a single day of the 2026/2027 school year due to the absence of transport arrangements, while the third is reliant on a taxi service that is not consistently available; the reasons transport arrangements were not put in place prio…

1254. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that two primary schools in County Tipperary expressed interest to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in opening autism spectrum (AS) classes, but were declined on the basis of school size; and if she will request that the NCSE review its policy regarding minimum school size requirements, particularly in circumstance…

157. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans there are to develop a further special school in south Tipperary (details supplied), given that the current schools are at full capacity and where a small rural school is at risk of closure due to falling numbers; if consideration would be given to converting such a school to a special education school; and if she will make a statement on…

505. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a letter of eligibility has not been issued to a child (details supplied) in South Tipperary who has applied through the parents notify portal for a letter of eligibility; if she will provide reassurance that when reports are submitted after the 1 October deadline that this will not prevent families from getting letters of eligibility; a…

516. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school in west Tipperary will be approved for a second ASD class, as promised ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, but which did not happen (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3630/26]

528. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 383 of 9 December 2025, if he will provide the details requested in the question specifically, the number of children who have sought a letter of eligibility for a place in a special class or special school through the parents notify portal before the deadline of 1 October 2025, by county; the number of childre…

1034. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 383 of 9 December 2025, if she will provide the information requested in the question (details supplied) in the interest of transparency and forward planning for all stakeholders as previous response failed to provide the information requested, specifically the number of children nationwide who sought a letter…

383. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children nationwide who sought a letter of eligibility for a place in a special class or special school through the parents notify portal, before the deadline of 1 October 2025, with a breakdown of each county; the number seeking a letter of eligibility for a place in a special class and special school in South Tipperary; the number o…

224. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will receive Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68296/25]

59. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a distinction between emotional support and behavioural management in relation to Circular 0030/2014; the supports available for children with emotional support needs that is, overwhelm, sensory overload and so on; to clarify clearly what is considered primary care needs and what is not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5…

436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if children with emotional and behavioural challenges will continue to be supported with SNAs; the proposed changes to the SNA supports; where children with additional needs present with emotional and behavioural challenges as opposed to primary care needs; the way in which these children will be supported if they do not have access to an SNA; the …

172. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the serious concerns raised by parents, educators and school leaders regarding the recently published NCSE guidelines for the SNA review process for 2025-26; if she will consider suspending or reviewing these guidelines pending meaningful consultation with stakeholders; if she will address specific issues (details supplied); if s…

174. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review the sanction and subsequent withdrawal of sanction for a new ASD class at a school (details supplied) in Tipperary; the reasons this sanction was removed; if she is satisfied with the manner in which this matter has been dealt with; if she will instruct the NCSE to re-instate the ASD class that she approved and announced…

397. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) in south Tipperary has not been allocated a single SNA despite a number of children with needs in the school; if this decision will be reviewed on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32004/25]

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons a school (details supplied) in south Tipperary that had previously had a new special class sanctioned has had the class withdrawn without any engagement to overcome the issues; if she will urgently review this decision by the NCSE which has left a number of students without an appropriate class place; how this class could have been sanc…

515. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the NCSE has now withdrawn a new ASD class at a school (details supplied) which was sanctioned back in March and announced by her office and regarding which parents were offered classes; if she will urgently reverse this decision and work with the school to ensure this class proceeds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2912…

121. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary was only granted 1.5 SNA positions given the significant needs of the school which is classified as a DEIS Urban 1 school; if she will review this matter and ensure that additional SNAs will be granted to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18014/25]

136. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her plans to open a new special school in south Tipperary (details supplied); if she will task her Department officials and the NCSE to seek locations for a new special school in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16601/25]

198. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her views on the applications for ASD classes in two schools in County Tipperary which have not had their classes sanctioned (details supplied); the reasons for not sanctioning these classes, particularly given that both schools have space available for a new ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16600/25]

566. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason there is a minimum number of students required in a school to meet her Department criteria to open a new special class; what is the minimum number of students required to open a new special class in a mainstream school; if she will review this criteria as small rural schools are an ideal setting to meet the needs of children with additional needs;…

65. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason why a school in south Tipperary has not been sanctioned a second autism class; whether this school will be sanctioned for a class as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14265/25]

1454. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the current use of a building (details supplied) in County Tipperary, given the immediate shortage of special school places in south Tipperary if the school could be used for the establishment of a new special school in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12954/25]

445. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application by a school in south Tipperary (details supplied) to open an ASD class in their school; the status of this application; if this application will be expedited as there are children in the area without an appropriate school place for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8039/25]