Special Educational Needs

130. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the application by a school (details supplied) for special school status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38051/26]

132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to expanding the upper age limit and September age cut-off criteria within the admissions policy for the new special school in Balbriggan, in recognition of the fact that many children with additional needs commence school later than their peers due to developmental, medical or placement-related…

133. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if flexibility will be introduced to ensure that children who may be over the stated age threshold, or who miss the September cut-off by a short period, are not excluded from accessing an appropriate special school placement where a clear educational need exists in the new special school in Balbriggan; and if she will make a …

134. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is considering a data-sharing arrangement with the Department of Health to facilitate forward planning in the area of special education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38101/26]

135. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Project Nexus will be linked with a centralised application system for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38102/26]

136. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on recruitment for the Education Therapy Service; the funding available to the service for expansion over the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38103/26]

137. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure that every special school has a summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38104/26]

138. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the preliminary findings of the inspectorate with regard to the evaluation of 25 autism-specific ELC settings in receipt of the home tuition grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38105/26]

139. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are supports available to a designated special school to purchase a specialised vehicle to transport students to and from the school; if this will be considered as part of pre-budget talks for inclusion as a right of additional needs children to have access to their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

140. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures to ensure a school (details supplied) which has a confirmed waiting list of eligible children and an available classroom, is permitted to open a second ASD class for September 2026; the timeline for processing expressions of interest under the special class sanction process; when SNA allocations for the 2026-2027 …

141. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she would consider creating a grant for all schools to undertake awareness events such as grandparents coffee mornings, specifically aimed at creating more understanding and awareness around special and additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38133/26]

150. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports available for children with Down's syndrome to transition from primary school to secondary school. [38163/26]

161. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth her position regarding a new special school (details supplied); the number of places that will be available; the enrolment procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38414/26]

464. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a live national dataset exists recording available special class and special school places by school, year group, county and category of provision; and if not, whether such a system is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36531/26]

466. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on an appeal submitted to the NCSE (details supplied); when the school can expect a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36594/26]

471. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a list of the schools for severe emotional behavioural difficulties, their principals and email addresses. [36619/26]

475. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth when details will be released regarding the admissions process for the new special school to be located within a school (details supplied), including how families can enrol; when enrolment periods will open and close; and how places will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36686/26]

476. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a programme (details supplied), and its supported transitions model, which is currently operating in ten schools across Ireland, supporting special school leavers in moving into mainstream further education, training and employment pathways; if she will confirm that funding will continue beyond that committ…

485. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently known to the National Council for Special Education as seeking but not yet having secured a special class or special school placement for the 2026/2027 school year, broken down by county and school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36724/26]

487. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of behaviour support practitioner posts approved nationally for special schools; the number currently filled; the number vacant; the average time from approval to commencement of service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36726/26]

488. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any service-level targets or performance indicators apply to the filling of behaviour support practitioner posts once approved by the NCSE; and if not, whether such targets are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36727/26]

489. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the behaviour support practitioner post allocated to a school (details supplied); whether the post has commenced; and if not, the reason for the delay and the expected commencement date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36728/26]

503. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the emergency measures available for children who are deemed unsuitable for mainstream education and ASD units but who cannot access a special school placement due to administrative delays or lack of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37135/26]

507. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of growing concerns among parents regarding access to autism class placements and SEN supports in post-primary schools, particularly in Limerick and surrounding areas; the measures being taken to address reports that some autistic students are required to attend mainstream classes for extended periods, or remain o…

508. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department or the NCSE has issued guidance to schools regarding ‘mainstream first’ approaches or mandatory review periods prior to approving additional supports; the steps being taken to ensure consistency in autism class admission practices between schools; the actions being taken to address the shortage of autism cl…