Questions

69. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has issued written guidance to post-primary schools on reasonable accommodation for students with dyslexia who experience significant and persistent difficulties learning a modern foreign language; whether schools are expected to consider alternative subjects or other arrangements in such cases; if not, the guidance that governs …

456. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has issued guidance to school management authorities on their obligations under the Equal Status Acts in respect of students with dyslexia who are required to study a modern foreign language; whether a school's subject selection policy can be applied without consideration of a student's individual disability-related needs; and t…

457. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedures available to parents who believe that a post-primary school has refused to consider reasonable accommodation for a student with dyslexia in relation to the study of a modern foreign language; whether her Department can review or investigate the application of school policies in such circumstances; and whether she will issue national gui…

349. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for assistive technology for children with special educational needs received by her Department in each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026; the number approved and refused, respectively; the number currently awaiting a decision; the average processing time to sanction; the longest period an application has remained awaiting sa…

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the arrangements that are in place for assistive technology provided to a child under the Department's assistive technology scheme when that child transfers to another primary school or the child moves from primary to post-primary education; whether the child retains the device and brings it to their new school; whether a new application or assessment…

360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the maximum timeframe her Department considers acceptable between a child's need for assistive technology being identified and the child receiving the required device; whether her Department has a formal service standard or target for processing assistive technology applications; and the percentage of applications in 2025 and 2026 that were processed …

369. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether all primary and post-primary schools have been formally informed of the provisions of Circular 0010/2013, concerning the transfer of assistive technology with a pupil when they change school, including when progressing to post-primary; whether further guidance has issued to schools on this process; and whether she will publish any circular, gu…

383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth following the review of the assistive technology scheme, whether she will provide the findings and outcome of that review; and to detail the actions taken, or proposed, arising from the review, including changes to the scheme eligibility criteria funding or provisions of the devices. [72127/26]

316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the exact number of children in Cork currently on the National Council for Special Education's database awaiting a special education placement as of a stated date; the number of the 63 newly confirmed special classes in Cork that are fully operational versus those still awaiting site readiness or staffing allocation; and if the Department will direct …

317. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Department holds, or has sought, any internal NCSE data showing the number of children in Cork whose assessed special educational need does not match any currently vacant place in the county; and the timeline being applied to resolve those mismatches. [50589/26]

318. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 829 18 March 2026, to confirm whether the NCSE's reference to children being tracked on "our database" constitutes confirmation that a live, countable record of unplaced children exists; and if so, the reason this number was not disclosed. [50590/26]

767. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally collects or monitors national data relating to reduced timetables involving students with special educational needs, including students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020, broken down by county and school type. [41674/26]

768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally records or monitors instances of repeated suspensions involving students with special educational needs, including students with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020. [41675/26]

769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any national review, assessment, or analysis of the use of reduced timetables, internal exclusions, repeated early collections, or other exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent students; and if so, to provide details of any findings, reports, recommendations, or actions arising. [41676/26]

770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight mechanisms that currently exist where a student with special educational needs is placed on a reduced timetable for an extended period; whether there are mandatory review requirements or reporting obligations; and whether external oversight by the National Educational Psychological Service, Tusla Educational Support Service, NCSE, or ano…

771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether their Department centrally collects or monitors data relating to internal exclusions, isolation practices, sensory withdrawal arrangements, or repeated early collection of students with special educational needs from schools; and if not, whether consideration is being given to introducing such monitoring arrangements. [41678/26]

772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined the impact of exclusionary educational practices on parental employment, family wellbeing, or reliance on carers' and social protection supports where parents are repeatedly required to remove children from school due to unmet educational or behavioural support needs. [41679/26]

773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the multidisciplinary therapeutic supports are currently available within mainstream schools, ASD units, and special schools, including access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioural support, psychology, and emotional regulation supports; and whether the Department has assessed whether existing provision is sufficient to meet…

774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined international evidence or best practice relating to therapeutic and trauma-informed educational approaches for neurodivergent students experiencing emotional dysregulation, school distress, or repeated exclusion from educational settings. [41681/26]

775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to undertake a formal national review into exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent children, including repeated suspensions, prolonged reduced timetables, and informal school removals; and if not, the reason no such review has been initiated. [41682/26]

776. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether guidance issued to schools regarding reduced timetables and exclusionary practices specifically addresses students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory regulation difficulties, trauma-related presentations, or co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions; and if so, to provide details of such guidance. [41683/26]

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 …

608. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to establish an interim national educational pathway for children on reduced timetables, limited home tuition, or awaiting suitable school placements who do not meet the current eligibility criteria for iScoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39737/26]

464. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a live national dataset exists recording available special class and special school places by school, year group, county and category of provision; and if not, whether such a system is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36531/26]

485. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently known to the National Council for Special Education as seeking but not yet having secured a special class or special school placement for the 2026/2027 school year, broken down by county and school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36724/26]