411. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update in relation to the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) for schools for the 2026-2027 school year; the date on which there will be clarity on this issue; the steps schools are expected to take where there is a cut in the SNA allocation to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16303/26]
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
425. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth how the pause of the SNA review will affect those schools who have been told their SNA allocation will be reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16399/26]
426. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's plans to ensure that mainstream schools’ SNA allocation is appropriate to the level of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16400/26]
427. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current plans to ensure that a group of children are able to access autism classes in secondary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16405/26]
428. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address matters concerning notifications received by a number of primary schools that they were set to lose some of their SNA allocation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16412/26]
429. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes nationally in 2023, 2024 and 2025. [16419/26]
430. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to increase the number of early intervention classes nationally in 2026/2027. [16420/26]
433. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if smaller schools can open special classes; if not, if they are precluded due to size; if size is a factor in this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16440/26]
443. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Clare seeking special education school places; the current level of unmet need; the projected demand for places for the next five years; the criteria used to determine special class allocation, of the new special education classes announced; the number of the schools which have the infrastructure to meet the needs of the…
456. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only two ASD early intervention classes in Waterford schools (details supplied); if these ASD early intervention classes will be funded in the 2026-2027 school year given the NCSE has not yet published a full list of all classes for 2026-2027, only a list of new classes for 2026-2027 whi…
463. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) is not allowed to proceed to open a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16677/26]
464. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to expand the furniture and repairs funding scheme to cover repair costs for special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16686/26]
466. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for details on funding for special schools (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16688/26]
471. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she clarify the position of her Department on the provision of positive behaviour support within special education schools, autism classes and mainstream settings where autistic or behaviourally vulnerable students are enrolled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16836/26]
484. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16879/26]
485. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) has no SNA support, given the school has submitted an application and an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16892/26]
486. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the case of a school (details supplied) and provide an update on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16898/26]
487. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 19 February 2026, the exact number of early intervention preschool classes for autistic children in mainstream and special schools that have been redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for the 2026/2027 school year. [16899/26]
488. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes which were open and functioning, by county, for each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16900/26]
489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to redesignate any more early intervention classes for the school year 2026/2027 or 2027/2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16901/26]
490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes which were redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for each of the years 2020 to 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16902/26]
491. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding allocated for assistive technology in schools for each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the number of students supported under this funding in each of those years, in tabular form; whether she intends to increase funding in light of the growing number and increasingly complex needs of children requiring assistive technology…
492. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding which is currently allocated to schools for support for children diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia; the criteria for accessing this funding; whether her Department plans to increase this allocation in the next financial year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16962/26]
493. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the financial support or grants available for families of children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia to access therapies, tutoring, or assistive technologies outside of school; the number of families that accessed this funding in the past three years; whether there are plans to expand this support; and if she will make a statement on the …
494. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure equitable access to funding for children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia across different regions; whether disparities exist; the steps being taken to address them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16964/26]