Questions

536. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the delayed opening of the new special school in Balbriggan; the reasons for the delay; the steps being taken by her Department to ensure that the school opens as soon as possible; the reason parents and families were not adequately or promptly informed of the delay; the reason alternative educational provision, including…

195. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason assistive technology was refused for a child (details supplied) despite a medical report submitted stating that this support is essential to enable the child to access the school curriculum while waiting an assessment for dyspraxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53802/26]

321. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she has assessed the impact of the removal of references to therapy plans and therapy-related supports from the revised SNA role on children with cerebral palsy and other significant physical disabilities attending mainstream schools; the way in which schools are expected to implement physiotherapy and occupational therapy recommendation…

322. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether children with cerebral palsy who attend mainstream schools and who have significant physical care needs but little or no learning disability were specifically represented during the development of the Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan 2026–2037; and if she will provide details of the organisations and parent representati…

323. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will establish a formal consultation mechanism with organisations representing children with cerebral palsy and their families to inform future implementation of the SNA Workforce Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48768/26]

344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if provision will be made to allow parents to transfer from school-based July provision to home-based July provision in circumstances where parents enrolled in the school-based programme in good faith, but the school is now unable to provide the programme due to staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/26]

132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to expanding the upper age limit and September age cut-off criteria within the admissions policy for the new special school in Balbriggan, in recognition of the fact that many children with additional needs commence school later than their peers due to developmental, medical or placement-related delays; and if she …

133. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if flexibility will be introduced to ensure that children who may be over the stated age threshold, or who miss the September cut-off by a short period, are not excluded from accessing an appropriate special school placement where a clear educational need exists in the new special school in Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

503. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the emergency measures available for children who are deemed unsuitable for mainstream education and ASD units but who cannot access a special school placement due to administrative delays or lack of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37135/26]

108. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm the special needs allocation for a school (details supplied) for the forthcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31014/26]

463. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently without an appropriate primary and secondary school placement in the constituency of Fingal, for the upcoming school year; the number of those children who have been diagnosed with mixed disability needs; the steps her Department is taking to ensure that every child requiring a special school or special class pla…

465. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is aware of cases where parents have applied to more than twenty special schools and mainstream schools with special classes yet have received only refusal letters due to lack of capacity; whether an emergency mechanism exists to ensure a school place is secured for such children before the start of the academic year; and …

466. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she will take to ensure better coordination between the National Council for Special Education, her Department, and local schools where a child with complex needs is at risk of having no school placement as they move from primary to secondary school; the supports available to families in such situations before the start of the school y…

467. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special school places and ASD class places planned for Fingal between now and September; whether emergency measures will be considered where children remain without placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21437/26]

468. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that children with complex needs have a right to receive an appropriate education within their own community; the measures being taken to expand local provision Fingal, particularly given the planned opening of a new special school in 2027 will come too late for entry into school in September 2026; and if she will make a statement…

469. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether it is acceptable that where a child with additional needs cannot access an appropriate special school or ASD class placement, a parent may be forced to give up employment in order to care for and educate the child at home; the supports available in such circumstances, particularly where the parent may they be deemed ineligib…

688. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that primary school teachers receive mandatory training in supporting children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; whether she will outline the level of ADHD-specific training currently required in initial teacher education and continuing professional development; and if she will make a statem…

689. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department monitors the way in which schools support children with ADHD who are awaiting HSE psychological services; the interim educational supports that are available to such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18836/26]

690. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the guidance that is issued to schools regarding classroom strategies for children with ADHD, including movement breaks, sensory supports, and differentiated instruction; whether this guidance is mandatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18837/26]

691. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether additional special educational teaching hours can be allocated to a child with a confirmed ADHD diagnosis who is experiencing significant emotional dysregulation and academic difficulty, pending access to psychological services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18838/26]

692. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will detail the process by which schools can apply for additional special needs assistant support where a child with ADHD presents with emotional regulation difficulties and potential risk factors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18839/26]

693. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the impact of long waiting lists for HSE occupational therapy and psychology services on children’s educational outcomes; the findings of that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18840/26]

694. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight that exists to ensure that children diagnosed through private providers following referral under the HSE’s assessment of need process receive timely recognition and educational supports within the school system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18841/26]

695. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will consider introducing mandatory ADHD awareness modules for all primary school staff, including training on executive functioning difficulties, sensory regulation, and trauma-informed approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18842/26]

696. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanisms in place to address situations where a child with ADHD is repeatedly disciplined for behaviours arising from their disability; whether her Department monitors exclusion or suspension rates for neurodivergent pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18843/26]