697. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools are provided with sufficient funding for classroom supports such as sensory tools, fidget aids, and environmental adaptations; if she will consider ring-fenced funding for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18844/26]
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
Browse the questions
Showing questions asked by Robert O'Donoghue under the heading Special Educational Needs.
50 questions match, newest first.
709. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a child with mixed abilities who accepts a placement in a mainstream primary school and is granted access to a special needs assistant automatically forfeits their place on a special school waiting list; if she will clarify the policy position in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18883/26]
711. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of mixed-abilities special education classes that will be required from September 2026 in the constituency of Fingal West; the number of children currently identified as requiring a place in such classes in September 2026; the measures being taken by her Department to ensure that sufficient places are provided to meet this demand; and…
855. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the ongoing review of the special needs assistant contract will be completed; if this review will include consideration of updated qualification and skills requirements for the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20052/26]
491. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding allocated for assistive technology in schools for each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the number of students supported under this funding in each of those years, in tabular form; whether she intends to increase funding in light of the growing number and increasingly complex needs of children requiring assistive technology…
492. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding which is currently allocated to schools for support for children diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia; the criteria for accessing this funding; whether her Department plans to increase this allocation in the next financial year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16962/26]
493. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the financial support or grants available for families of children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia to access therapies, tutoring, or assistive technologies outside of school; the number of families that accessed this funding in the past three years; whether there are plans to expand this support; and if she will make a statement on the …
494. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure equitable access to funding for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia across different regions; whether disparities exist; the steps being taken to address them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16964/26]
495. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the effectiveness of funding for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia is monitored; the outcomes that are tracked; and whether there is evidence that current funding levels meet the needs of children both in and outside of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16965/26]
496. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether funding is allocated specifically for training teachers and support staff in supporting children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia; the amount of such funding; whether there are plans to expand professional development in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16966/26]
961. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the basis on which children are scheduled for speech and language therapy assessments in CHO 9, including whether referrals are processed strictly in order of date received or subject to clinical and-or age-based prioritisation; the criteria used in such prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3938/26]
62. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her position on proposals put forward by an organisation (details supplied) for 'Seizure Safe Schools'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2625/26]
461. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review a case where a school-led above SERC review was conducted on 22 May 2025 (details supplied) in respect of an autism specific class; the reason after almost five months, no decision has been communicated to the school regarding its application for additional SNA support; if she will ensure that the findings of that rev…
462. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the pupils in an autism class (details supplied) are presenting with highly complex needs, including PICA, self-injurious behaviours and high levels of dysregulation; the steps her Department and the NCSE are taking to ensure that schools are not left without adequate resources to provide for these children’s right to an app…
269. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to removing the obligation on special needs assistants to undertake an additional 72 hours of work annually, in light of widespread concerns raised regarding the implementation and potential misuse of this requirement, as documented by representative organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the mat…
270. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure parity of health and safety leave entitlements between special needs assistants, SNAs, and teaching staff; to explain the rationale for the existing 21-day cap on such leave for pregnant SNAs, a restriction not applicable to teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26815/25]
271. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to the introduction of a statutory entitlement to family illness leave for special needs assistants, in line with provisions available to other school staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26816/25]
272. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the removal of the cap on paid leave for special needs assistants, following incidents of assault, as outlined in Circular 0062/2017 (Scheme for Leave of Absence Following Assault for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26817/25]
273. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will establish a clearer and more timely system of communication in respect of contract renewals for special needs assistants, as many SNAs report not receiving confirmation of continued employment until the commencement of the school summer holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26818/25]
274. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the ongoing review of the special needs assistant contract will be completed; if this review will include consideration of updated qualification and skills requirements for the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26819/25]
227. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the State’s obligations under the Constitution and under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, how the Department justifies the continued lack of access to a school place for a child with a disability, where over 180 public schools have been contacted without success, and no public school place has been p…
372. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education given that children are accessing access and inclusion model support in early years settings, if she will clarify that these figures are being used when determining allocations for primary school ASD classrooms, special needs assistant support and resource teaching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13861/25]
608. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the urgent measures being taken to ensure that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not left without a suitable school place, in particular in the case of a child (details supplied) where a child due to start school in September has been refused from 15 schools with ASD classrooms; the steps she is taking to address the shortage of ASD classro…
424. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education when the new special unit for autism in a school (details supplied) will be ready for opening given the building and staffing are in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7731/25]
381. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education to report on any plans for upgrading autism services in a school (details supplied) to provide additional SNAs and a special unit for autism; whether any grant funding has been made available for such upgrading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6311/25]