378. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently examine an application for a special needs assistant in respect of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29409/26]
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
379. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently examine an application for a special needs assistant in respect of a child in County Kerry, (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29411/26]
386. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to use Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to progress new special education classes [29472/26]
89. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention preschool classes for autistic children in mainstream schools which are being redesignated to primary autism classes or other special classes for the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28799/26]
93. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the decision to have autism class hubs is intended as a pilot initiative; and if so, the timelines and evaluation criteria for SEN classes. [28822/26]
98. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to address the critical shortage of special class placements within the Dublin 10 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28858/26]
105. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made on the provision of additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) for autism classes; when it is expected these classrooms will be ready for use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28989/26]
107. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ensure education of sufficient special education spaces across Waterford at both primary and secondary level. [29014/26]
491. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the progress regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28169/26]
492. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the progress regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28170/26]
493. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the progress regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28171/26]
494. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the progress regarding a special school place for a child (details supplied); the engagement there has been with the NCSE to secure a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28172/26]
499. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the redesignation of an early intervention class for a school in County Kildare (details supplied). [28301/26]
508. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) could be granted an emergency special needs assistant to deal with a new primary care need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28443/26]
523. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason Eircodes are not included in announcements of new autism classes; if she will include them in future to make locations clearer for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28569/26]
524. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new autism classes expected to open in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28570/26]
526. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current shortfall in autism class places; the expected shortfall for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28572/26]
527. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department maintains a central list of autism classes, including their locations and capacity; if she will consider making this information publicly available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28573/26]
531. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to engage with the family on the matter. [28577/26]
540. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration was given to designing the newly announced special education classes as broader SEN classes rather than restricting enrolment to autism only; if schools were consulted on this model; if so, whether they actively request these classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28717/26]
541. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if this intended as a pilot initiative, and if so, what are the timelines and evaluation criteria for SEN classes. [28718/26]
542. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the apparent contradiction reconciled between the Minister stating that diagnosis will not be required for primary provision, while simultaneously introducing classes that appear to rely on an autism-specific threshold for access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28719/26]
230. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the SET hours provided to each primary school in Dublin 15 under circular 0011/2026 for the 2026-2027 school year; if this represents an increase or decrease in the number of SET hours provided in each school, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27811/26]
231. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently intervene, examine and address issues raised in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27812/26]
270. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is a statutory basis for the suspension of reviews of completed assessment of need applications under the Disability Act 2005 in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27844/26]