329. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that special needs assistants are being asked under the proposed SNA workforce development plan to undertake expanded duties, mandatory professional development and increased workplace flexibility without any corresponding commitment to enhanced pay, allowances or career progression opportunities; and if she will make a statement on th…
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.
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139
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129
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115
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99
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92
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86
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80
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68
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
330. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to deliver school transport for the July provision programme at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47169/26]
331. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for a delay in the sanctioning of home based hours for July provision as opposed to last year; when these hours will be sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47170/26]
332. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a new special school at a location (details supplied); the number of places that will be available; the enrolment procedures; if staff have been hired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47205/26]
333. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any consideration was given during the development of the SNA workforce development plan to the introduction of additional remuneration, allowances or incremental payments for special needs assistants in recognition of expanded duties and mandatory professional development requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47226/26]
334. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of hours of mandatory training and professional development that will be required of special needs assistants under the proposed revised circular; whether these hours will be compensated through additional pay, time off in lieu or other measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47227/26]
335. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the requirement for special needs assistants to complete an additional 72 hours outside normal school attendance days was reviewed as part of the SNA workforce development plan; the rationale for retaining this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47228/26]
336. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants redeployed between schools in each of the past five school years; the number anticipated to be redeployed under the new allocation model; her views on the impact of redeployment on continuity of support for children with additional educational needs.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47229/26]
337. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration was given to the introduction of qualification-based increments or allowances for special needs assistants holding level six, level seven, level eight or postgraduate qualifications relevant to their role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47230/26]
338. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment undertaken of the impact of the proposed SNA allocation model on small primary schools with a single SNA post; and the mechanisms available where additional needs arise during the school year. [47231/26]
339. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the revised SNA allocation model will ensure that autistic and other neurodivergent pupils whose needs relate primarily to communication, emotional regulation, social interaction or school attendance can access appropriate support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47232/26]
340. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment of the SNA workforce development plan; whether such assessment examined the impact on pupils with disabilities and additional educational needs; and if she will publish the findings. [47233/26]
341. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated annual cost of implementing the SNA workforce development plan; the additional funding allocated for training, professional development and implementation supports; and if she will provide a breakdown of these costs. [47234/26]
344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if provision will be made to allow parents to transfer from school-based July provision to home-based July provision in circumstances where parents enrolled in the school-based programme in good faith, but the school is now unable to provide the programme due to staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/26]
347. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason special needs assistants are required to attend in-service training courses in their own time outside of school hours, without receiving either leave in lieu or monetary payment; if she will review the mechanism for the provision of such courses for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47316/26]
356. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason sanction approvals for the 2026 Home-Based Summer Programme have not yet issued to participating families; the number of applications received to date; when sanction emails will issue to parents and guardians; and the measures being taken to ensure that children do not lose access to tutors or programme hours as a result of delays in the a…
364. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions being taken to ensure adequate special needs assistants (SNA's) staffing levels in view of reports that shortages of SNAs are resulting in Summer Provision Programmes being cancelled, thereby depriving children with additional needs of essential support; the number of Summer Provision Programmes that have been affected or cancelled due t…
365. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person will not get placed on a panel for employment opportunities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47524/26]
369. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47562/26]
379. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if alternative arrangements are possible for children who have been approved for home-based summer programme supports but who are in overcrowded or emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47681/26]
382. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47693/26]
383. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47694/26]
388. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a schools (details supplied) application to establish a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47791/26]
389. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth when sanction letters for home based summer provision will be issued; if consideration will be given to extending the window for hiring tutors given the short timeframes in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47830/26]
278. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 27 May 2026, the total number of general learning disability special classes in the school system; and whether there are plans to increase this number. [46459/26]