Special Educational Needs
An official questions-paper heading. 2,799 questions (33 oral, 2,766 written), first 2025-01-22, latest 2026-07-28.
Questions under this heading, per month
Jan 2025Jul 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 31 |
| Feb 2025 | 124 |
| Mar 2025 | 114 |
| Apr 2025 | 160 |
| May 2025 | 134 |
| Jun 2025 | 183 |
| Jul 2025 | 215 |
| Sep 2025 | 113 |
| Oct 2025 | 76 |
| Nov 2025 | 191 |
| Dec 2025 | 122 |
| Jan 2026 | 163 |
| Feb 2026 | 283 |
| Mar 2026 | 270 |
| Apr 2026 | 167 |
| May 2026 | 181 |
| Jun 2026 | 171 |
| Jul 2026 | 101 |
Addressed to
| Department | Questions |
|---|---|
| Education | 2,737 |
| Children | 37 |
| Health | 17 |
| Further and Higher Education | 5 |
| Social | 3 |
Debates under the same heading
Dáil debate sections whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
Barry Heneghan
oral
2026-04-23 · to Education
7. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the level of engagement her Department has had with the request by a school (details supplied) for modular accommodation that can facilitate the opening of two additional autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29156/26]
Peadar Tóibín
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
9. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils assessed as requiring special needs assistant support who did not have that support in place at the commencement of the school year in each of the past three academic years; the number of special needs assistant posts approved but unfilled at the start of each year; the average delay between approval and deploy…
Willie O'Dea
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
31. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the rollout of special classes. [29163/26]
Pádraig O'Sullivan
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
32. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is sufficient budget, capacity and time to ensure that all children with a special educational need will have an appropriate school place this September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29069/26]
James O'Connor
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
36. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the rollout of special classes in Cork east. [29170/26]
Roderic O'Gorman
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
47. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will clarify the working definition used by her Department for the term ‘inclusion’ and for the term ‘complex needs with respect to Departmental policy related to special schools and/or mainstream schooling for children with additional or complex needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13306/26]
Louis O'Hara
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
51. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the provision of special classes in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28167/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views that all the special classes sanctioned for September 2026 will be delivered; if lessons have been learned from the failure to deliver same for the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29167/26]
Eoghan Kenny
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
66. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to fully outline the rationale behind the opening of the special classes/hubs in mainstream schools, which will now allow schools enrol up to 12 students per class; the organisations and schools that were consulted on this process; the role the NCSE played in this decision making process; the additional supports that will be made a…
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
71. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the policy rationale for the introduction of a new category of ‘inclusive special class’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29026/26]
Grace Boland
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
73. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth how the application process for special education teaching hours is administered by her Department, including how allocations to individual schools are determined and how the needs profile of a school is reflected in the final allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28417/26]
Conor Sheehan
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
75. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for €100,000 in funding for three years for educational supports using the data from the PRIME project for a school (details supplied) in Limerick following a visit by the Minister for Special Education, if the funding will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28032/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
76. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who are in need of a place in a special classroom and have not had an offer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29168/26]
Tony McCormack
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
84. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is coordinating with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure sufficient school places and in-school supports for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13251/26]
Grace Boland
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
85. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work currently being undertaken by her Department to upskill teachers to support children with special educational needs, including through initial teacher education and continuous professional development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28418/26]
Roderic O'Gorman
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
90. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the Dublin 15 Special Education Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29033/26]
Naoise Ó Cearúil
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
99. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in north Kildare that are on a waiting list for a local primary ASD place; whether forward planning for ASD provision is undertaken on an area-based basis in identified growth areas in north Kildare; the additional ASD class provision planned locally for the 2026 and 2027 school years; and if she will mak…
Mark Ward
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
101. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on special education provision in Dublin mid-west, including new builds and extensions in mainstream settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27575/26]
Sorca Clarke
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
108. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the response of her Department to concerns raised by disability organisations regarding the rollout of new inclusive special classes for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29010/26]
Cian O'Callaghan
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
109. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will take steps to ensure that a school (details supplied) is provided with the funding needed for additional autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28753/26]
Noel McCarthy
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
111. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to establish another special school in east Cork, specifically between Carrigtwohill and Youghal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28763/26]
Mark Ward
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
115. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the early intervention supports in place for children with dyslexia in classroom settings; when they will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27574/26]
Pádraig O'Sullivan
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
355. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the justification for the lack of therapeutic supports, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology within school environments, leaving schools as ‘de facto’ providers without necessary resources; her plans to address this ongoing issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13310/26]
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
359. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford that have had their allocation of SNA hours reduced; the number of schools that have lost their SNA positions; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14357/26]
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin
written
2026-04-23 · to Education
360. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason SNA hours are being cut in primary schools across the country; the reason the increase of 1,717 SNA positions has not been delivered, as promised in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14358/26]