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 will make a statement o…
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
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 primary and post primary …
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 she will expedite a …
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]
553. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10630/25]
555. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); the actions she will take to support this family in securing a suitable school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10730/25]
556. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application (details supplied) to the NCSE to open an ASD unit in September 2025; if, having regard to demand in the local area and no requirement for additional space, she will expedite the approval of this application in order that the class can be open for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10734/25]