Special Educational Needs

129. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the new admissions to special school policy outlined on 9 December 2025; whether this will be in place for the 2026-2027 school year; and who will be the decision maker on admission to special school and category of school suitable for a child who has not received an AON. [22858/26]

296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether every school on the school therapists pilot project will automatically transfer to the education therapy support programme; whether these will retain existing staff on transfer; and whether these staff will reapply for their roles through the NCSE. [22788/26]

305. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the new admissions to special school policy outlined on 9 December 2025; whether this will be in place for the 2026-2027 school year; and who will be the decision maker on admission to special school and category of school suitable for a child who has not received an AON. [22859/26]

312. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to support a person (details supplied) who has significant communication needs and unique academic abilities; if funding for a bespoke education or learning support package can be accessed through the fund for students with disabilities or any other scheme; the process by which such supports ma…

457. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can confirm that for mainstream placements under section67(2)(f), the NCSE must consider the school’s ability ‘including that ability when resources are made available’, and that oversubscription or year-group caps do not extinguish this obligation; and if her Department has considered sanctioning the additional resource…

463. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently without an appropriate primary and secondary school placement in the constituency of Fingal, for the upcoming school year; the number of those children who have been diagnosed with mixed disability needs; the steps her Department is taking to ensure that every child requiring a special school …

465. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is aware of cases where parents have applied to more than twenty special schools and mainstream schools with special classes yet have received only refusal letters due to lack of capacity; whether an emergency mechanism exists to ensure a school place is secured for such children before the start of the…

466. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she will take to ensure better coordination between the National Council for Special Education, her Department, and local schools where a child with complex needs is at risk of having no school placement as they move from primary to secondary school; the supports available to families in such situations before the s…

467. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special school places and ASD class places planned for Fingal between now and September; whether emergency measures will be considered where children remain without placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21437/26]

468. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that children with complex needs have a right to receive an appropriate education within their own community; the measures being taken to expand local provision Fingal, particularly given the planned opening of a new special school in 2027 will come too late for entry into school in September 2026; and if she w…

469. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether it is acceptable that where a child with additional needs cannot access an appropriate special school or ASD class placement, a parent may be forced to give up employment in order to care for and educate the child at home; the supports available in such circumstances, particularly where the parent may the…

472. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) does not have the supports they require in their school, resulting in missed school days through no fault of their own; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21497/26]

473. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) has been approved for a ‘special class for autistic learners’ in September 2026; and to provide assurance to the school that the new class will go ahead as scheduled. [21557/26]

475. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools (primary and post-primary) in Mayo that currently have autism classes; the number of schools (primary and post-primary) in Mayo that applied to her Department for funding in the past year to open an autism classroom; the number of these applications that were successful; the number of additional autism c…

476. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the planning in place in Mayo to ensure children in an autism class at primary school have a smooth transition into an appropriate autism class at post-primary level;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21561/26]

478. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to address the lack of feeder special classes in the secondary schools (details supplied). [21578/26]

488. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a person (details supplied) can have their school care plan reviewed, if a resource SNA can be sourced for them as needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21632/26]

489. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an ASD class place for a child (details supplied). [21634/26]

490. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to sanction more early intervention classes in Kerry; the number that will be available in September 2026; the number of places that will be available in total; the number of places that will be available for new students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21649/26]

491. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to sanction more special education classes in Kerry; the number that will be available in September 2026; the number of places that will be available in total; the number of places that will be available for new students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21650/26]

495. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently in the education system with a student support plan. [21730/26]

496. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a student (details supplied) has been removed from a school; and the supports or steps that are available. [21746/26]

497. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if section 67.2 of the Education Act 1998 sets out the mandatory factors the NCSE must consider in designation decisions (details supplied); and if she will further confirm that no Department circular, including circular 75/2022, can override or displace these statutory requirements and if the NCSE must complete a full section …

501. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up-to-date position with the provision of a special school place for a student in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21789/26]

502. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to establish reader class or equivalent specialist literacy intervention provision in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21790/26]