846. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify the position of parents in a situation (details supplied); and if the approach taken is consistent with Government policy. [13994/26]
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
-
129
-
115
-
99
-
92
-
86
-
80
-
68
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
1063. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is currently an assessment of needs officer in place in County Galway [14936/26]
1064. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is currently an assessment of needs officer in place in County Roscommon [14937/26]
299. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the reduction of three SNA posts at a Kildare school (details supplied), when the NCSE review was supposed to pertain to only one above-SERC post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13438/26]
301. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the application for an ASD unit for a school (details supplied); if the application has been reviewed by her Department; the current status of same; the timeline for a decision in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13445/26]
310. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the establishment of more reading schools and reading classes in North Dublin area to cater for children with dyslexia; the actions she is taking to increase capacity in this area given the increased demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13494/26]
313. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reduction of SNA's in Dublin 12 after the latest review, by each school. [13525/26]
317. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide, with respect to the 2026/27 academic year, a full list of schools in Longford-Westmeath that have been sanctioned by the NCSE and her Department to open new ASD classrooms; the timeframe for delivery for each one; the status of each; to outline the supports that will be put in place to ensure these classes are operational in a timely mann…
319. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether in recent special needs assistant review cycles, any revised guidance has issued to the National Council for Special Education distinguishing between level 2 and level 3 primary care needs for the purpose of determining reductions in SNA allocation; and if she will clarify the policy basis for any such distinction [13546/26]
320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the safeguards which exist within the special needs assistant review appeals process to ensure that schools are not discouraged from lodging appeals; whether any departmental guidance addresses the possibility of further allocation changes following an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13547/26]
321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the quality assurance procedures that are in place within the National Council for Special Education to ensure accuracy in SNA allocation correspondence issued to schools; whether any internal review has taken place following instances of incorrect allocation notifications, and if she will outline the governance framework governing such communications…
322. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth Education the current operational status of the special needs assistant redeployment scheme referenced in Circular 0032/2025; whether it is fully operational nationwide; and the way allocation reductions are managed in schools pending full implementation of the scheme [13549/26]
323. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools in County Cork that have experienced a reduction in special needs assistant allocation following National Council for Special Education review during the 2024 and 2025 school years; and whether her Department is satisfied that reductions are being applied consistently and proportionately [13550/26]
324. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department can intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to ensure that adequate special needs assistants provision is obtained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13551/26]
325. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will explain the criteria for reducing the special needs assistant allocation for a school in Kildare (details supplied) [13552/26]
326. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will explain the criteria for reducing the special needs assistant allocation for a school in Kildare (details supplied) [13553/26]
327. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will explain the criteria for reducing the special needs assistant allocation for a school in Kildare (details supplied) [13554/26]
328. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the proposed ASD classroom; the current status of the school’s application with her Department; the stage the project is at within the approval process; the anticipated timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13561/26]
329. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm the total number of special needs assistants and whole time equivalents that were employed by the State in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13565/26]
341. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current number of special reading classes in the north Dublin area; whether she intends to increase this provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13584/26]
342. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if further supports will be given to the current cohort of schools not included in the phased roll-out of the education therapy service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13586/26]
350. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention preschool classes for autistic children in mainstream schools and special schools which are being redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for the 2026/2027 school year [13713/26]
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 class level; and if she …
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]