768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally records or monitors instances of repeated suspensions involving students with special educational needs, including students with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020. [41675/26]
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
769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any national review, assessment, or analysis of the use of reduced timetables, internal exclusions, repeated early collections, or other exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent students; and if so, to provide details of any findings, reports, recommendations, or actions arising. [41676/26]
770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight mechanisms that currently exist where a student with special educational needs is placed on a reduced timetable for an extended period; whether there are mandatory review requirements or reporting obligations; and whether external oversight by the National Educational Psychological Service, Tusla Educational Support Service, NCSE, or ano…
771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether their Department centrally collects or monitors data relating to internal exclusions, isolation practices, sensory withdrawal arrangements, or repeated early collection of students with special educational needs from schools; and if not, whether consideration is being given to introducing such monitoring arrangements. [41678/26]
772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined the impact of exclusionary educational practices on parental employment, family wellbeing, or reliance on carers' and social protection supports where parents are repeatedly required to remove children from school due to unmet educational or behavioural support needs. [41679/26]
773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the multidisciplinary therapeutic supports are currently available within mainstream schools, ASD units, and special schools, including access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioural support, psychology, and emotional regulation supports; and whether the Department has assessed whether existing provision is sufficient to meet…
774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined international evidence or best practice relating to therapeutic and trauma-informed educational approaches for neurodivergent students experiencing emotional dysregulation, school distress, or repeated exclusion from educational settings. [41681/26]
775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to undertake a formal national review into exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent children, including repeated suspensions, prolonged reduced timetables, and informal school removals; and if not, the reason no such review has been initiated. [41682/26]
776. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether guidance issued to schools regarding reduced timetables and exclusionary practices specifically addresses students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory regulation difficulties, trauma-related presentations, or co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions; and if so, to provide details of such guidance. [41683/26]
779. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on staff allocations at schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41770/26]
783. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are any plans to address the pay and recognition of SNAs, particularly those working in DEIS schools where the level of need and complexity can be extremely high; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41812/26]
818. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the early intervention class at a school (details supplied) was repurposed into a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42146/26]
832. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted an assessment of the availability of autism class places and special school capacity at primary and post-primary level in Longford and Westmeath ahead of the upcoming school year; and if gaps identified will be addressed. [42243/26]
835. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Longford-Westmeath currently awaiting school places in special classes or special schools ahead of the upcoming academic year. [42297/26]
845. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of plans to deliver an ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42407/26]
852. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has issued guidance to primary schools that provide, host, facilitate or contract after-school services on the inclusion of children with disabilities or additional needs; whether such services are expected to be accessible to children with additional care, communication, sensory, behavioural or medical needs; the supports avail…
853. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether school-age childcare and after-school services operating in or through primary schools are required to make provision for children with disabilities or additional needs; what statutory, regulatory or funding obligations apply to such services in relation to inclusion and reasonable accommodation; if supports are available to providers to enabl…
854. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether priority is given to children residing in an area when allocating ASD class places in that area's primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42624/26]
855. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's plans to ensure continuity of education for children with ASD from primary to secondary level within their local community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42625/26]
856. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that a pupil (details supplied) who missed the deadline for applying for the 2026 home-based summer programme to support the education or care needs of students with complex needs by one day will be allowed to participate within the programme due to their need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42626/26]
873. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that all children with special educational needs will have access to an appropriate school place for the 2026-27 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42845/26]
874. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration is being given to reviewing how ASD accommodation is provided and resourced nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42846/26]
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]