Special Educational Needs

36. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals she has to roll out a national therapy service in education for special schools and special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8600/25]

42. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education what resources are allocated to ensure that teachers working in special schools are adequately trained; if there are professional learning seminars they can avail of or if the university courses at present offer this training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8188/25]

51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the status of a proposed school for special education in County Monaghan; the number of children that are expected to be enrolled upon the school’s opening in September; the admissions criteria that will be applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5748/25]

53. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education her efforts to accommodate students with special educational needs in Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8533/25]

54. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education the training provided to teachers to ensure the adequate provision of education to students with special educational needs. [8610/25]

56. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans for a special school in the Youghal and wider east Cork area to alleviate the long waiting lists; if her Department will consider modular or rapid build to speed up the process to allow these children have a school unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8513/25]

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on Strand I and II of the educational therapy support service; if she intends to transition this service to a national therapy service in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8488/25]

58. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the situation faced by parents and children in Dungarvan and west Waterford whereby 22 children have been placed on a waiting list for the local special school; if he understands the anxiety, anger and anguish of the parents of these children; if the Government will commit to drastically expanding special school capa…

60. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants, and special classes to ensure that every child with special or additional needs receives appropriate supports in their preferred school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8426/25]

61. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans to improve occupational therapy services in Youghal and the wider east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8514/25]

62. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the school inclusion model; to outline future plans for the delivery of holistic therapies in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6002/25]

76. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education to report on the progress of the Dublin 15 taskforce on special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8536/25]

77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when additional special classes will be sanctioned; if she will ensure that all students with additional needs will have an appropriate school place for the 2025/2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8601/25]

78. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education her proposals to ensure that there is a suitable school place for every child with special educational needs in County Monaghan in September 2025. [8609/25]

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education what action will be taken regarding the oversubscribing of a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny despite a new building recently being constructed; if any additional places can be provided to the school given the significant demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/25]

80. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a new status for special education schools to recognise the fact that whilst they are currently classed as primary schools, they cater for an age range that includes adolescents and teenagers and many offer Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8151/25]

228. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the in-school therapy supports pilot programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8965/25]

231. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will examine delays in implementing the new model of front-loading SNA support which was announced back in 2020; the reason it has not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7742/25]

232. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if a new toolkit for the deployment of special needs assistants is being implemented; the details of same; the way in which this will impact on the supports available to children at school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8661/25]

240. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding matters raised in correspondence on special education teaching allocation in a school in Waterford (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8787/25]

245. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if the toolkit for deployment of SNA support (details supplied) amounts to a shift of responsibilities from SNAs to teachers; her views on whether this will place undue burden on teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8871/25]

249. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the total number of times section 37a of the Education Act 1998 was used; the reasoning for its use, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8951/25]

250. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the schedule of building works of autism units and special schools being carried out and completed to ensure provision for special education school places for September 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8952/25]

253. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to sanctioning and funding an SLD reading classes in the Artane area of north Dublin; the steps that are being taken to ensure children with severe dyslexia are being accommodated in north Dublin; if, given the increased demand for places in SLD classes, she will sanction additional funding for a temporary …

144. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD classes opened in primary schools in Kildare south; the locations and school numbers; the current capacity of these ASD classes; the number of children enrolled in these classes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8378/25]