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 may be applied for; an…
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
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 resources needed to allow a …
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 or special class pla…
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 academic year; and …
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 start of the school y…
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 will make a statement…
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 they be deemed ineligib…
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 classes and places in…
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 67.2 determination w…
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]
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 county; and if she …
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. [21792/26]
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]