Special Educational Needs

875. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding SNA allocations for 2026 and 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42847/26]

877. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the roll-out of therapeutic supports in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42849/26]

878. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of her Department’s engagement with the two special school campaigns in County Cork, including one in Cork city and one in east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42850/26]

889. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address the matters of a school (details supplied) seeking intervention regarding redeployment protections for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42914/26]

902. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will bring forward plans to deliver ASD classes in Malahide for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43082/26]

924. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the finding in the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2025 that the number of special classes has doubled since 2020 to approximately 3,735 special classes catering for nearly 23,000 students in the 2025-2026 school year, if she is satisfied that the current rate of expansion is sufficient to me…

931. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide special school places in the east Cork area, given that families in the Youghal catchment currently have no special school option closer than Dungarvan, Carrigtwohill or Cork city, and that a school (details supplied) was required last year to hold a lottery to allocate places from its waiting list; and …

934. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a full list of all autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classes in Cork city and county, broken down by school and including the number of such classes in each school; the projected provision of additional ASD classes to meet rising demand in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43481/26]

935. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for additional special needs assistant support submitted by a school (details supplied) for the 2026-2027 school year; the current status of the review of the school’s SNA allocation; when a decision is expected to be communicated to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43525/…

943. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the proposed changes to autism assessments will impact children’s access to specialist school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43800/26]

946. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special class places and special school places that will be provided in County Kildare for the 2026/27 school year; whether she is satisfied that provision will meet identified demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43828/26]

948. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an additional year can be provided for a student in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43858/26]

949. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the issue of a sanction letter for assistive technology support for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43880/26]

952. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to determine when an area is deemed to have insufficient special class capacity in free-scheme schools; the inputs used in making such determinations, including the role of demographic projections and current applications; and if she will make a …

953. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning for special class provision is based on forward-looking demographic and geographic data rather than reactive identification of demand at the point of application; if she will outline any planned reforms to improve early identification of need for the 2026-2027 school ye…

954. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way the travel distance is weighted in the decision-making process when sanctioning new special classes; whether maximum or recommended travel distances for children with additional needs are applied in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43902/26]

968. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken, or plans to undertake, a review of special needs assistant employment contracts to examine whether separate contractual arrangements are warranted for primary, post-primary and special school settings, having regard to differences in working hours, school calendars and duties; and if she will …

970. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of assessments of educational needs which were conducted by the NCSE in 2025, by area; the number conducted by the NCSE and the number outsourced; the total amount spent on outsourcing for each of the past five years; and the number of assessments to which this relates, in tabular form. [44155/26]

971. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have undergone an assessment of their health and educational needs via both the NCSE and the HSE, or whether she keeps sufficient records on this matter to ensure efficiency and no duplication of efforts. [44156/26]

972. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the protocols in place to eliminate duplication of assessment efforts by the NCSE and the HSE; the efforts made to streamline this process; the protocols in place to avoid duplication in outsourcing to third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44157/26]

2109. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the supports available for children with autism, sensory processing needs, or suspected dyspraxia who are awaiting occupational therapy; whether interim supports or guidance can be made available to families during the waiting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42711/26]

2110. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to developing an access pathway for children who will sit State examinations within the next number of years and who require occupational therapy to support their educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42712/26]

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of applications made to date to the National Council for Special Education from parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child; the number of applications made since the deadline of 1 October passed; the status of the roll-out of new special class and special school places to meet th…

81. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the revised 2014 SNA circular, the workforce development plan and SNA redeployment scheme; when these will be published; the consultation that has taken place in creating these documents; if they will genuinely reflect the reality of the role of an SNA in a modern educational environment; and if she will make a sta…

86. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the SNA review for a school (details supplied) in north Dublin, recognising the uncertainty families are facing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40716/26]