Questions

92. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools in Kildare North will benefit from the additional investment in special education from budget 2027, particularly in relation to the provision of special classes, special education teachers and SNAs. [74874/26]

101. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that primary schools requested by her Department to provide additional mainstream places or establish new special classes receive timely confirmation of the teaching posts, special educational needs supports and associated resources required to deliver those places; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

109. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis on which the 1 September 2026 closing date for the NCSE parents notify portal for special class and special school placements for the 2027-28 school year was determined; whether consideration has been given to concerns raised by schools that the deadline falls before many schools have reopened following the summer break, limiting opport…

308. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which special classes in mainstream schools are intended to operate for students with different categories of educational needs, including autism, general learning disabilities, sensory impairments and others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46985/26]

309. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which the newly sanctioned special classes for the 2026/2027 school year will cater for all students with special educational needs; to provide a breakdown of classes, by category of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46986/26]

854. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether priority is given to children residing in an area when allocating ASD class places in that area's primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42624/26]

855. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's plans to ensure continuity of education for children with ASD from primary to secondary level within their local community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42625/26]

2109. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the supports available for children with autism, sensory processing needs, or suspected dyspraxia who are awaiting occupational therapy; whether interim supports or guidance can be made available to families during the waiting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42711/26]

2110. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to developing an access pathway for children who will sit State examinations within the next number of years and who require occupational therapy to support their educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42712/26]

99. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in north Kildare that are on a waiting list for a local primary ASD place; whether forward planning for ASD provision is undertaken on an area-based basis in identified growth areas in north Kildare; the additional ASD class provision planned locally for the 2026 and 2027 school years; and if she will make a statement on the…

111. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department oversees the consistency and transparency of NCSE decisions on SET and SNA allocations for post-primary schools; the mechanisms that exist to address cases where schools report unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11005/26]

185. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the forward planning measures in place to address the shortage of ASD class places in both primary and secondary schools in Kildare north, given rising population and demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70776/25]

136. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special education places that will be allocated to schools in Kildare north further to Budget 2026, which provided for 3,000 additional special education places nationwide for the 2026/27 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64075/25]

137. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the sanctioning of special classes in mainstream schools in Kildare north under the 3,000 additional places announced in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64076/25]

234. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the new Inclusive Education for All strategy 2025-2028 will address barriers faced by students with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60703/25]

50. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to address over 800 vacancies in special education classes, as reported by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59581/25]

739. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils in County Kildare receiving additional supports under the Special Education Teaching allocation for each year from 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58606/25]

55. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in County Kildare with ASD units each year from 2022 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57474/25]

197. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to review the NCSE policy requiring exclusive clinical wording for access to autism classes, in cases where a clinician recommends placement, given concerns that this may prevent children from receiving appropriate supports based on professional advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53980/25]

757. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a response to a departmental query (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44566/25]

137. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made on introducing a new common application system for children applying to special schools and classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31232/25]

680. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeline for completing the SNA workforce development programme to provide clarity on their role and career paths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30565/25]

681. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special education teachers and special needs assistants she intends to hire to provide greater support to students and schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30566/25]

1604. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the long wait times for initial assessments for speech and language therapy services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30432/25]

615. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes for children with intellectual disabilities in each primary school in Kildare north specifically; the number of children attending these schools from Kildare north specifically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24320/25]