Special Educational Needs

360. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if there is a cap on special needs assistants for 2025 and 2026; what that cap is, and if it is being reviewed in light of increased demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13599/25]

361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of SNA posts funded in Budget 2025; the level of support this will provide in the planned new special classes and special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13600/25]

368. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education following the recent communication from the National Council for Special Education regarding the cap on special needs assistants, which has led to several schools (details supplied) having their SNA review applications placed in limbo, why certain schools have been informed of increases in their SNA allocations, while others, despite going t…

369. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education what steps the Department is taking to address the issue of certain schools’ SNA applications being placed in limbo and to ensure that schools receive the necessary SNA support to meet the needs of students with additional needs, especially in light of the time and resources schools have already invested in the review process; and if she wil…

370. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education when a place in an autism special school setting will be provided for a child (details supplied). [13699/25]

372. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education given that children are accessing access and inclusion model support in early years settings, if she will clarify that these figures are being used when determining allocations for primary school ASD classrooms, special needs assistant support and resource teaching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13861/25]

378. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of new ASD classes delivered in Galway post-primary schools in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [13902/25]

383. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many vacancies for special education needs organiser posts that exist in the Louth area; and when will those posts be filled, in tabular form. [13907/25]

402. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a situation raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14063/25]

411. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education to address the lack of supports for single working parents of children with autism (details supplied) during school holidays, as they rely on term-time-only afterschool services, and need further assistance when schools and afterschool are closed for holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14107/25]

421. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to develop ASD places in pre-school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14186/25]

298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education in view of the commitment in Budget 2025 to provide for up to 400 additional new special classes for the 2025-2026 school year, if there is additional demand beyond 400 additional classes; if further financial provision will be made to provide additional classes if such are needed to ensure that every student with additional needs at prima…

299. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if a student entering a special class or an ASD unit in first year at second level will be guaranteed that placement for the duration of their education at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12976/25]

303. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of special classes each primary and post-primary school has; if they have requested a new special class or classes; and the number of children who have applied for special classes in each school. [13004/25]

306. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education in cases in which a child with special needs is receiving home tuition and the home is not a suitable space, the supports that can be provided when an alternate space is found (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13038/25]

310. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education when the details of the Summer programme for 2025 will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13091/25]

311. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education the number of children on the waiting list for an autism class school place in Dublin Fingal west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13092/25]

312. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education the number of sanctioned autism classes for 2024 that have opened and enrolled pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13093/25]

313. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education for an update on the sanctioned autism classes for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13094/25]

315. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education the number primary and secondary schools in Tallaght that have expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the 2024/2025 academic year; the number of these applications that were accepted and refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13105/25]

316. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Tallaght that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the percentage of those schools that declined; and if her Department can provide insight into the reasons given for these refusals. [13106/25]

317. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a special educational needs extension, including the stage it is currently at; and the expected timeline for approval and funding. [13112/25]

319. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was not sanctioned for an ASD class. [13114/25]

415. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a place will be provided at an ASD unit in Kilkenny city or Jenkinstown or Clara for a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; if occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will be arranged for this non-verbal child as a matter of urgency as specified in a report; and if …

550. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will review and advise on the case of a child (details supplied) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and a moderate to severe intellectual disability who consultants state needs a special school place as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12481/25]