280. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports available to parents of a child (details supplied) with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder who has been refused placement in a special class in 20 different schools; if she will review this specific case with a view to identifying an appropriate school placement; and if she will advise on the next steps available to the family to secur…
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
70. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason early intervention classes are closing across the country. [45975/26]
71. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to support children impacted by the closures of early intervention classes. [45976/26]
72. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes over the past five years; the number that have closed in the past twelve months; the number that remain open for the upcoming academic year 2026/2027, in tabular form. [45977/26]
73. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures that are being taken to ensure that adequate educational, medical, therapeutic, and disability supports are provided for children with complex needs upon their admission to primary schools (details supplied). [45993/26]
75. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes for autistic children in each county in each school year from 2020-2021 to 2026-2027, broken down by mainstream school and special school; and the net increase or decrease in each county over that period, in tabular form. [45998/26]
76. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes for autistic children that have been redesignated, repurposed or converted into primary autism classes for the 2026-2027 school year; the school and county in each case; who initiated the change; and whether replacement early intervention provision has been opened in the same local area, in tabular form. [45999/…
77. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department and the NCSE when deciding whether an early intervention class for autistic children should be retained, closed, redesignated or converted into a primary autism class; whether those criteria are published; and whether schools are being asked or encouraged to convert early intervention classes to meet demand for prima…
78. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether it remains Government policy to provide early intervention class placements for autistic children aged three to five; if so, the way in which she reconciles that policy with the reduction in early intervention classes for the 2026-2027 school year; and whether her Department or the NCSE is planning any further reduction, redesignation or phasin…
80. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a person (details supplied) will be prioritised for a place in the autism hub of a school (details supplied). [46056/26]
106. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to fully fund and resource the July provision; if her attention has been drawn to shortfalls in human resources to deliver the provision; and her plans to address that matter. [46349/26]
107. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on an application for a special class allocation for a school (details supplied); if it is envisaged that the provision of a special class will be made available to the school ahead of the upcoming 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46350/26]
413. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to a parent (details supplied) trying to obtain an appropriate special school placement for their child without success; to confirm that the NCSE is aware of the individual and linked in with the family; the assistance that can be provided to the parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44896/26]
443. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number for school places in mainstream primary schools for pupils with special educational needs required for the school year commencing September 2027; the number of additional places beyond those available at present that will be required; the estimated amount it will cost to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4505…
444. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school places in special schools for pupils with special educational needs required for the school year commencing September 2027; the number of additional places beyond those available at present that will be required; the estimated amount it will cost to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45055/26]
458. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason an educational assessment for a child (details supplied) showing literacy difficulties consistent with dyslexia was not sanctioned following the school's referral through the NEPS advisory support line; the criteria applied and the reasons this referral was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45225/26]
459. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 28 May 2026, wherein a detailed breakdown of children without an appropriate school place for September 2026 was requested, to provide the requested data alongside an overview of all data held by her Department and the NCSE as regards unmet need for special education places for September 2026. [452…
464. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ensure children in SEBD schools are provided with additional supports such as the supports provided under DEIS. [45408/26]
465. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason SEBD schools do not have access to parenting programmes to support families in their schools. [45410/26]
466. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth how long the placement for student teachers is in an SEBD school; and the circular which covers that. [45411/26]
467. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide additional allowances to SEBD schools for property damage due to a child's challenging behaviour. [45412/26]
468. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide SEBD schools with an allowance for tetanus injections and other medical expenses incurred. [45413/26]
470. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of specifically SEBD schools across Ireland; the counties they are in; and the number of students enrolled in each, in tabular form. [45415/26]
478. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will sanction an autism unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45496/26]
492. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs currently employed; the estimated first and full-year cost of providing an additional 100 SNAs in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45663/26]