Special Educational Needs

359. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for the development of an additional SEN class at a school (details supplied); and the engagement with the school to ensure all SEN classes are at ground floor and to a similar standard will take place. [13776/26]

362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any formal or informal guidance has been issued by her Department or by the National Council for Special Education in the 2025–26 review cycle indicating that pupils in fifth and sixth class in mainstream primary settings should not be considered eligible for special needs assistant support solely by reference to their clas…

363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the eligibility criteria for special needs assistant allocation are based exclusively on documented care needs rather than age or class grouping; and to outline the current policy position governing this. [13780/26]

364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any revised circular, directive, operational instruction or internal policy guidance was issued to the National Council for Special Education or to Special Educational Needs Organisers in advance of the 2026 SNA review cycle altering the weighting of mainstream primary care needs; and if so, to provide details. [13781/26]

365. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the SNA appeals mechanism permits a reduction in allocation beyond that originally notified where an appeal is submitted; and to outline the procedural safeguards in place to ensure that the exercise of the right of appeal does not expose schools to additional allocation loss. [13782/26]

366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any review of the operation of the SNA redeployment scheme for the 2025–2026 school year; to provide the number of SNA posts redeployed nationally in that period; and to outline how redeployment interacts with reductions notified to schools. [13783/26]

367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the net national change in mainstream SNA posts, excluding special class allocations, between the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 school years; and to provide the number of primary schools experiencing a reduction of one or more full-time equivalent SNA posts for September 2026. [13784/26]

372. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an urgent sanction can be provided for a third mild special class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13906/26]

373. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a decision will issue in respect of the application for additional special classes at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13907/26]

377. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to increase autism class places in schools in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13950/26]

378. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on additional school accommodation application (details supplied); if the application has been reviewed by her Department; if so, the current status of same; the timeline for a decision in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13955/26]

379. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a proposed reduction in allocated SNA hours for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13974/26]

380. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the annual national budget allocation for SNA resources for the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive, and the projected budget for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13975/26]

381. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth is she is aware of a case (details supplied); if her officials will investigate the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13977/26]

382. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that the NCSE propose to increase, decrease, or leave unchanged SNA allocation posts from September 2026, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13978/26]

383. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have appealed NCSE proposed SNA post allocations for September 2026, as of 14 February 2026, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13979/26]

59. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the massive cuts to SNA provision in schools across County Kerry (details supplied) can be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12943/26]

60. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to immediately reverse the savage cuts to SNAs across County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12944/26]

62. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address correspondence from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12969/26]

130. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the reduction of special needs assistant, SNA, posts in a primary school (details supplied) following a recent SNA review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13070/26]

131. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the increase of special needs assistants working in schools across Cork city and county for each of the years 2023 to 2025; the allocation for 2026, if available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13071/26]

132. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the increase in special educational teachers working in schools across Cork city and county for each of the years 2023 to 2025; the allocation for 2026, if available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13072/26]

134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the new special school in Carraig na bFhearr will open. [13140/26]

135. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans in place to expand access to special reading schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13141/26]

140. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently give approval for a school in County Clare (details supplied) to open an autism class for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13164/26]