138. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department has taken and will take to make the education system more inclusive for children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17205/25]
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.
-
139
-
129
-
115
-
99
-
92
-
86
-
80
-
68
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the number of additional special school places that have been provided for Cork for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17213/25]
156. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in the Dublin Mid-West area; the number of special schools; to outline the plans for new schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17310/25]
157. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education her plans for a special class for a school (details supplied); and for a breakdown of the number of special classes for all of Wicklow versus the level of need. [17129/25]
158. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm the details of the new special school for Cork based in Carrignavar and, in the interim, Fermoy; when applications for the school will open; the way parents can apply for children for same; if criteria have been developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17212/25]
163. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education for an update on additional special education classes that are being provided in Dublin West since 2024. [17233/25]
166. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education for an update on her Department’s work regarding accessibility of education for people who are visually impaired. [17149/25]
172. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education for an update on the Autism Class Application Trial, which is being run by primary schools in Dublin 15; if her Department has signed off on the relevant documents for phase 2; if not, the reason therefore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17223/25]
173. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she supports the objective of providing an additional needs class for every school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17230/25]
175. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on special schools and special classes in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16752/25]
176. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of expressions of interest that have sought to secure a place for a child in the interim special school in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17183/25]
177. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for sanction for a special class. [16380/25]
180. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0002/2024 in relation to the distribution of special education teaching hours at primary level, given many schools are concerned that the model used relies heavily on end-of-year test scores for second, fourth and sixth class students, meaning that resources are not being applied with consideration being given to children below seco…
191. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the reason mainstream classes in a pre-school (details supplied) have been excluded from special needs education support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16919/25]
192. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction the provision of additional time and additional supports for dyslexic students sitting State exams in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17157/25]
196. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education the plans in place to ensure that children in County Mayo who are waiting prolonged periods for their initial CDNT appointment do not experience delays in accessing appropriate school placements and supports. [17165/25]
198. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her views on the applications for ASD classes in two schools in County Tipperary which have not had their classes sanctioned (details supplied); the reasons for not sanctioning these classes, particularly given that both schools have space available for a new ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16600/25]
199. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the significant pressure for places in ASD special classes in primary schools in the Dublin 15 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17224/25]
205. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education if her Department has examined initiatives to assist dyslexic students to study Irish at post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17226/25]
210. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she intends on expanding the Dublin 15 autism class application trial across Ireland to introduce a centralised application system for autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16918/25]
467. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered opening a special school specifically for the areas of Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Brittas in order to cater for demand in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16628/25]
468. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education how many new autism classes are intended to be opened in primary schools for the coming school year in Rathcoole, County Dublin; how many new places will be available; in what schools; what work is ongoing to ensure suitable school places for all children in the area who require them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16629/25]
469. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the total number of children in Dublin mid-west who require placements in a special school or autism class, but who are currently attending mainstream classes due to a lack of suitable school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16630/25]
470. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if any funding is available to primary schools to assist in acquiring a vehicle for use by patrons of an ASD class for trips and so on, where current funding does not cover such costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16631/25]
495. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of students in counties Wicklow and Wexford who have diagnosed special needs for both primary and secondary level, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16942/25]