Special Educational Needs

1102. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the annual Exchequer cost of restoring the special education diploma allowance to all teachers who have completed the recognised special education diploma but who are not currently eligible for the allowance; whether this cost has been assessed in the context of the public service pay agreement or Local Bargaining Fund; whethe…

1110. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding ongoing work in relation to putting in place support mechanisms for children classed as twice exceptional that also have an advanced learning need (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54797/26]

1111. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the research carried out (details supplied) into the supports required by children classed as twice exceptional that also have an advanced learning need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54798/26]

1159. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up to date position of the education therapy rollout; the number of special schools included to date; the number of these located in Cork north-west; the timeline for wider rollout to additional schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55464/26]

1160. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made in recruiting speech and language therapists and occupational therapists for education therapy service for Cork county; the number of posts sanctioned, filled and vacant for Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55465/26]

1180. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 15 July 2026, to provide information on the identified level of need for a special education place at primary school level for a school planning area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55684/26]

1209. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned at decisions made for SNA allocations which are not meeting need in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55986/26]

1229. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for assistive technology in Dublin that were granted in each of the years from 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [56213/26]

1231. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, given the case of a school (details supplied) and the uncertainty regarding the timeline in relation to the promised new ASD Unit in that school, the temporary repurposing of a classroom to cater as an ASD classroom will see that classroom being properly resourced and appropriately equipped with the specialist facilities and r…

1234. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a school (details supplied) in Bray; if the school remains on schedule to open in September 2026; when details of admissions criteria, eligibility, enrolment procedures will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56340/26]

1235. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the arrangements being made to ensure that families requiring a place at a school (details supplied) in Bray receive timely information regarding admissions and enrolment for the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56341/26]

1236. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the need for a special school to serve Wicklow town and the surrounding area, whether there are plans to establish a school; the current status of any assessment or proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56342/26]

1260. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding work ongoing within her Department that seeks to increase the provision of special education teachers to ensure the best possible outcome for students that require additional support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56798/26]

1265. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of special education places available in Kerry; the demand for special educational needs places in Kerry; the number of special education classes sanctioned in Kerry in each of the years 2020 to date and for the school year 2026-2027, in tabular form. [56835/26]

1266. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants and special class places allocated to schools in County Kerry in each of the past five years. [56836/26]

1270. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the request by a school (details supplied) to provide a large-scale communication board to support students, particularly those with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57035/26]

1271. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the merits of providing a dedicated fund for schools to seek funding for a large scale communication board (details supplied) to support students, particularly those with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57037/26]

1272. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SEN ASD places that will be available in schools, both primary and post-primary, in the Dublin south-west area for the 2026-2027 academic year, in tabular form. [57056/26]

1275. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the SNA allocations for each second level school in Dublin Mid-West for the 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 school years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57079/26]

1277. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the SNA allocations for each primary level school in Dublin Mid-West for the 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 school years; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57081/26]

1335. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to reinstate the special education diploma allowance for teachers who entered public service after 1 February 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57760/26]

1337. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she recognises the disparity created between teachers who have completed the special education diploma prior to 2012 and continue to receive the associated allowance and those teachers who completed the same diploma after 1 February 2012 and do not receive the equivalent allowance; and if she will make a statement on t…

1338. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the annual Exchequer cost of restoring the special education diploma allowance to all teachers who have completed the recognised special education diploma but who are not currently eligible for the allowance; whether this cost has been assessed in the context of the public service pay agreement or Local Bargaining Fund; whethe…

1. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with additional needs who require but have yet to receive an offer of an appropriate school place for September 2026, based on her most recent meeting with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE; the date of same; the measures she is taking to ensure that every child with additional needs has an a…

4. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for setting 1 September 2026 as the closing date for applications for special school and special class places for the 2027-2028 school year; the exceptions that will apply where parents are unable to provide the required documentation by that date; the consultation undertaken by her Department and the National Council …