327. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measure being taken to increase the number of moderate general learning disability classes in mainstream schools in Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23041/25]
Topics / Special Educational Needs
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsSpecial Educational Needs
2,921 questions from 146 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
2,921
questions
2,881 written, 40 oral
146
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 31 |
| February 2025 | 124 |
| March 2025 | 114 |
| April 2025 | 160 |
| May 2025 | 134 |
| June 2025 | 183 |
| July 2025 | 215 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 113 |
| October 2025 | 76 |
| November 2025 | 191 |
| December 2025 | 122 |
| January 2026 | 163 |
| February 2026 | 283 |
| March 2026 | 270 |
| April 2026 | 167 |
| May 2026 | 181 |
| June 2026 | 171 |
| July 2026 | 101 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 44 |
| October 2026 | 78 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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139
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129
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115
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99
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92
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86
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80
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68
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
166. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to give a detailed account of the use of seclusion and restraint in schools as a means of dealing with "challenging behaviour" in children with additional educational needs, including the most recent figures for the prevalence of seclusion and restraint; the steps taken since the last report on seclusion and restraint in schools from the Ombudsman for…
174. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can confirm that she has in her role as Minister the discretionary powers to provide for a larger central activities space than the standard size for all SEN bases built in certain cases (details supplied); her views on whether given the scale of an extension granted that this school and others with similar large extensions, would require a…
181. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Kerry that are deaf and hard of hearing in post-primary schools; the number of special education classes that are currently available; the plans she has to make additional special education classes available during the next school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22398/25]
185. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth for details on the current provision of special school placements nationally at primary and secondary level, in particular, the name and location of the school, the number of class places and the population size served. [22436/25]
186. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected provision of special school placements nationally at primary and secondary level for September 2025, in particular, the name and location of the school, the number of projected class places and the population size served. [22437/25]
187. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected number of children nationally requiring primary and secondary special education placements in September 2025. [22438/25]
191. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm if an SNA allocation and review can proceed at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22493/25]
192. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if her Department is considering increasing the number of sessions teachers are provided with interpreters in certain circumstances as part of the ‘Say Yes to Languages’ programme; the steps her Department is taking to promote inclusion for teachers; and if she will make a statement on…
196. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a breakdown of the number of special classes in DEIS and non-DEIS schools; if she believes the number is proportionate to the number of students in DEIS and non-DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22546/25]
199. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the SET allocation for a school (details supplied) with a view to allocating increased SET hours to address the growing needs of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22551/25]
214. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify if there a national SNA cap of 23,791 if this is for the calendar year or the academic year; the period of time this cap on SNA's covers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22754/25]
220. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child with additional needs in Dublin 9 (details supplied); if she will respond to the details of the case; the immediate supports that can be made available to the child’s family in respect of access to appropriate educational supports; the extent to which her Department has been engaging with the different stak…
223. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education the specific Government guidelines for SEN places nationwide. [21808/25]
225. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will consider expanding SNA duties and roles beyond their current ones; and if she plans to recognise that SNAs often go above and beyond their limited roles for the children. [21810/25]
226. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education if she plans to introduce clear guidelines in relation to what qualifies as children’s needs for a space in school; and the reason the NCSE and her Department do not work cohesively to achieve this clear wording. [21811/25]
233. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education if an ASD class at primary school level will be provided in Gort, County Galway and surrounding areas given the lack of any such classes at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21865/25]
62. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education whether or not there is currently a budgetary constraint or recruitment freeze affecting the allocation and deployment of SNAs for the 2024/2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21313/25]
63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to clarify the role and remit of special educational needs organisers in the allocation of SNA hours/posts to schools, particularly in relation to recommendations for reduced timetables in the absence of appropriate supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21314/25]
74. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the number of visiting teachers to children who have significant hearing loss in primary schools in County Cork (details supplied). [21407/25]
77. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education to clarify on reports that SENOs are approving an increase in allocations of SNAs in principle, but these supports cannot be put in place due to an insufficient budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21507/25]
78. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education for clarification on whether geographical areas have a quota in terms of SNA allocations in tabular form. [21508/25]
80. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces for children with additional needs in Monaghan; the plans to increase such; the timeframe to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21590/25]
82. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the financial supports that will be available to special needs assistants as part of the redeployment scheme for special needs assistants should their redeployment take place a distance away from their previous post. [21625/25]
86. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education for an update on the programme for Government commitment to create a national therapy service; this be located in the National Council for Special Education or in her Department; when it will start to hire staff; it will start to provide therapy services to children in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21674/25]