Topics / Special Educational Needs

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Special 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
MonthQuestions
January 202531
February 2025124
March 2025114
April 2025160
May 2025134
June 2025183
July 2025215
August 20250
September 2025113
October 202576
November 2025191
December 2025122
January 2026163
February 2026283
March 2026270
April 2026167
May 2026181
June 2026171
July 2026101
August 20260
September 202644
October 202678

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.

  • 100% RDR3 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú77 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil539 from 37 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael416 from 24 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party40 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent169 from 13 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland121 from 4 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party276 from 11 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity133 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin902 from 38 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 139
  2. 129
  3. 115
  4. 99
  5. 92
  6. 86
  7. 80
  8. 68

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Paul Murphy Written 19 May 2026 · to Education
547. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to engage with the family in order that the child’s education is not affected in a negative way. [37739/26]
Michael Healy-Rae Written 19 May 2026 · to Education
548. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a special class for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37790/26]
Denise Mitchell Written 19 May 2026 · to Education
559. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a lack of SNA supports for children with additional needs in some Gaelscoileanna is leading to parents withdrawing children to English-language schools which are better resourced in this area; the steps she is taking to address this matter and ensure children with additional needs can remain in Gaelscoileanna; and if she will …
Denise Mitchell Written 19 May 2026 · to Education
560. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school (details supplied) will receive a determination on application for additional SNA supports; if she is aware that the school has still not received a response on its application despite being assured it would be processed before Easter 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37832/26]
John Lahart Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
294. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin South West that are currently without a special class place; the way this shortage is influencing the Department’s prioritisation of the rebuild of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35853/26]
Willie O'Dea Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
301. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the inconsistency between schools regarding autism class access and placement; if her Department intends to provide clarification regarding school admission practices for autism classes; if there is a plan to deal with the shortage of autism class placements and the growing number of SEN students unable to fully access education du…
Conor D McGuinness Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
303. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if two SNAs whose primary school is closing down (details supplied) will be redeployed to another school; when she expects this to happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35931/26]
Michael Cahill Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
304. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently examine and expediate the granted extensions for autism rooms at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36017/26]
Shane Moynihan Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
306. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which her Department is satisfied that there are sufficient numbers of teachers trained to support children with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties at primary level; and the measures being taken to expand access to specialist training for teachers in this area. [36416/26]
Shane Moynihan Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
307. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed externally developed programmes aimed at supporting children with dyslexia and struggling readers; the process by which such programmes can be considered for national rollout or support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36417/26]
Shane Moynihan Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
308. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to expand CPD opportunities for primary school teachers in the area of literacy difficulties, including dyslexia; and whether additional accredited programmes will be supported or recognised by her Department in order to address current gaps in provision. [36418/26]
Shane Moynihan Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
309. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current provision for teacher training programmes in the area of dyslexia and literacy difficulties at primary level; the number of such programmes supported or recognised by her Department; and whether there are plans to expand or introduce further training programmes to address existing gaps. [36419/26]
Shane Moynihan Written 14 May 2026 · to Education
313. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that all sanctioned additional special needs assistant (SNA) posts are being filled in a timely manner, including those additional posts allocated as part of the SNA review and the reason a school (details supplied) has not yet been able to recruit to an allocated SNA post. [36424/26]
Natasha Newsome Drennan Written 13 May 2026 · to Education
78. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of funding for an additional ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35379/26]
Cathal Crowe Written 13 May 2026 · to Education
80. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a 'comprehensive assessment of behavioural function' is a mandated requirement in special schools and ASD units when addressing high-risk behaviours of concern; the specific personnel or clinical professionals tasked with carrying out these assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35452/26]
Cathal Crowe Written 13 May 2026 · to Education
81. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific professional qualifications and clinical experience required for National Council for Special Education personnel and school staff who hold responsibility for managing and understanding 'behaviours of concern'; if these requirements are equivalent to the behaviour specialist standards mandated in the adult intellectual disability sector (…
Michael Healy-Rae Written 13 May 2026 · to Education
87. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a decision on an application for assistive technology can be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35511/26]
Ann Graves Written 13 May 2026 · to Education
92. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to a person (details supplied) to ensure her 13-year-old child gets access to a school.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35594/26]
Réada Cronin Written 13 May 2026 · to Health
263. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new portal system regarding the summer education programme for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35755/26]
Mark Ward Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
534. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department will ensure access to structured, evidence-based literacy instruction in all mainstream classrooms for children with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33970/26]
Mark Ward Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
535. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department intends to address gaps in initial teacher education and mandatory training in dyslexia and structured literacy for children with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33971/26]
Mark Ward Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
536. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason guidance continues to delay identification, contrary to international research for children with dyslexia; whether this will be reviewed; the specific measures that will ensure that inclusion is meaningful, rather than nominal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33972/26]
Paul McAuliffe Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
547. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of schools with special classes in Dublin 9 and 11, as this list is not available anywhere on the Department's or the NCSE's website. [34094/26]
Jen Cummins Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
549. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the portal to register for both school and home based summer provision will open at the same time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34101/26]
Jen Cummins Written 12 May 2026 · to Education
550. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the portal for both school and home based summer provision will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34102/26]