Special Educational Needs

179. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is any policy or instruction in place with the NCSE regarding the reduction of SNA allocations for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13399/26]

180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been brought to the concerns of school principals that are fearful that their school will face a reduction in their SNA allocation pending an assessment by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13400/26]

181. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the supports that will be made available for any SNA that has been told they will not have a job in their current school for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13401/26]

182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any engagement she has had with unions representing SNAs that have been told they will not have a job in their current school for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13402/26]

584. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a full response will issue to a person (details supplied) and this Deputy regarding a child's special education school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11589/26]

593. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department can request the NCSE and SENO to engage with the family of child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11698/26]

594. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the measures being taken to address the ongoing issues surrounding the application process for suitable school places for children with special educational needs in North Tipperary; the reason parents in this area are unable to obtain eligibility letters for their children that missed the October deadline due to the ab…

595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) could retain the services of four special needs assistants whose positions have been recommended to be cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11709/26]

646. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider introducing a special education equipment grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12280/26]

647. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the deadline to notify the NCSE regarding special class places for the 2027-2028 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12282/26]

648. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the strategies in place to notify parents and schools about the NCSE deadline for special class places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12283/26]

650. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will consider providing special schools with an AP1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12285/26]

651. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide pathways to enable mobility between the health and education sector to transition into special education posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12286/26]

668. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for the reduction of two mainstream special needs assistant (SNA) posts in a primary school (details supplied) following a recent SNA review; the way in which her Department ensures that the ongoing behavioural, emotional and care needs of children in mainstream settings are adequately considered during such reviews…

670. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason letters of eligibility for young people with special educational needs are tied to the 1 October date given assessments occur all year; if she is aware that this new process is causing distress to parents; if she plans to review the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12419/26]

671. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware there are currently young people in Dublin mid-west with diagnoses who are precluded from applying for a school place as a consequence of the 1 October cut-off date for eligibility letters; if she is aware there are also young people with diagnoses and offers of long-awaited school places in appropriate settings, w…

672. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the available supports and the route for access for the supports available for educational provision to young people with special educational needs who cannot secure appropriate school places due to not having a letter of eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12421/26]

673. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently review the case of a school (details supplied) that has suffered a significant loss in SNA numbers for the upcoming school year [12452/26]

676. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the case for provision of an additional ASD room in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12497/26]

681. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the measures being taken to increase the number of autism class and special school places at post-primary level, in light of pupils completing primary autism classes who are unable to secure appropriate placements due to capacity shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12555/26]

682. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that transition planning for autistic pupils is carried out in line with NCSE guidance, and that children are provided with placements appropriate to their assessed needs, sensory profiles and support requirements, rather than being offered any available place where no suitable provision exists; and if she will …

684. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a primary school (details supplied) has been notified of a reduction of 1.5 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts in its allocation for the coming school year; the criteria and assessment process used to determine this reduction; whether her Department has considered the impact this reduction will have on pupils with addit…

687. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth with regard to the recent allocations of special classes for County Cork, the reason no new special classes have been allocated to the entire area of west Cork (details supplied); and if she can confirm that west Cork schools will be included in the allocation of the new special classes. [12613/26]

695. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied); if she is aware that the proposed reduction of a .5 SNA post will leave 164 children, including those with chronic medical conditions (epilepsy and asthma) and severe behavioural needs, with only one SNA; if she has considered the safety implications of this…

703. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proportion of DEIS and non-DEIS schools that currently operate one special class; the proportion which operate more than three special classes, by level, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12858/26]