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]
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
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. [38096/26]
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 school year will be …
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 committed till the end of t…
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 on waiting lists for …
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 class placements at po…
512. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes in Dublin 13 area at primary level, by school, in tabular form. [37267/26]
513. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ASD classrooms that are currently in post primary schools in County Wexford. [37268/26]
515. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes in Dublin 9 area at post primary level, by school, in tabular form. [37270/26]