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
John Brady
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
503. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which children in County Wicklow who do not have local access to reader class provision are expected to implement professional recommendations arising from educational psychology or dyslexia assessments where such recommendations specify access to structured literacy intervention that is not currently available within the…
John Brady
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
504. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is considering funding reassessments for students where reapplication for specialist support is required due to the lack of local provision, particularly where delays or inaccessibility of services may result in expired reports or outdated professional recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter…
John Brady
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
505. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the national strategy or policy framework that exists specifically for dyslexic students who do not meet current criteria for a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21794/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
507. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for assistive technology received and refused every year for the past five years, in tabular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21802/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
510. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with patterned absenteeism who have additional educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21834/26]
Cian O'Callaghan
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
512. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to sanctioning two additional autism classes for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21848/26]
Cian O'Callaghan
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
513. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes that have been sanctioned in each tranche; if she will commit to the sanctioning of an additional autism class for (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21862/26]
Paul Murphy
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
514. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to ensure the children have appropriate school places. [21863/26]
Eoghan Kenny
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
522. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to detail the newly sanctioned special classes, broken down by county, with regard to the 387 approved classes announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22172/26]
Barry Ward
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
528. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the appeal by a school (details supplied) in relation to their current allocation of SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22190/26]
Barry Ward
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
529. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the management team of a school (details supplied) in relation to their resource allocation in terms of dealing with pupils with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22191/26]
Barry Ward
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
530. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the NCSE in relation to their resource allocation in terms of dealing with pupils with additional needs for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22192/26]
Mairéad Farrell
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
532. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places in reading classes in Galway city; the number of applications received for reading classes in Galway city; the work she and her Department are undertaking to address this oversubscription; if an additional reading class will be established in Galway city; if there are any additional in-school supports for c…
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
537. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the situation at a school (details supplied); and if she will outline the current status of this appeal and when a final determination is expected. [22291/26]
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
538. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by the National Council for Special Education when assessing applications and appeals for additional special needs assistant (SNA) support in small rural primary schools; and whether the Department will review these criteria where schools have experienced a significant increase in enrolment and complex care nee…
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
539. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the SNA allocation at a school (details supplied); and if additional SNA resources will be considered. [22293/26]
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
540. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that the current allocation of two SNAs in a two-teacher school such as school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22294/26]
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
541. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures available to schools where pupils with assessed care needs are experiencing significant absence rates due to a lack of available SNA support; and whether emergency or interim supports can be provided while an appeal to the National Council for Special Education is under consideration. [22295/26]
Michael Cahill
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
542. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the process by which "new and material changes in circumstances", including emerging diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder and multiple complex conditions, are assessed in SNA allocation reviews; and whether these factors were considered in the recent decisions relating to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a…
Pa Daly
written
2026-03-24 · to Education
550. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 716 of 18 March 2026, if further details will be provided specifically on the number of specialised reading classes currently in operation in north Kerry for children with dyslexia and other literacy-related special educational needs; the number of children currently awaiting access to such support…
Donna McGettigan
written
2026-03-24 · to Health
880. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health 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. [21631/26]
Rory Hearne
written
2026-03-19 · to Education
274. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update and timeframe for the additional special educational needs classes at a school (details supplied); when the school will be fully open for full school days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20978/26]
Thomas Gould
written
2026-03-19 · to Education
277. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional SNA posts can be sanctioned for a school (details supplied). [20985/26]
John Lahart
written
2026-03-19 · to Education
288. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to support a school (details supplied) in delivering the six autism spectrum (AS) classes they have committed to establishing under their new build, given that existing AS classes are operating in unsuitable prefabs separate from the main buildings; and if she will confirm the way her Department will ensure that children …
Ruth Coppinger
written
2026-03-19 · to Education
289. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to 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; if her Department has considered sanctioning the additional resources needed to a…