150. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the national criteria and methodology used by the NCSE in determining annual SNA allocations to primary schools; whether this methodology has changed for the 2026/27 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13225/26]
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.
-
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
151. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools notified of a reduction of two or more SNA posts for the 2026/27 school year and if she will provide a county-by-county breakdown [13226/26]
152. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any impact assessment has been carried out on the educational and care implications of SNA allocation reductions; and if she will outline same [13227/26]
153. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of SNAs allocated to primary schools in Cork for the 2024-2025, 2025-2026 and projected 2026-2027 school years respectively [13228/26]
159. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a letter of eligibility will be provided immediately to an individual (details supplied) in order for them to be able to accept the appropriate school place offered to them given their needs are no longer being met in a mainstream educational setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13242/26]
162. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNA provisions reduced from schools after the latest NCSE review, by county, excluding new posts sanctioned, in tabular form. [13336/26]
163. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the cuts to SNA provision in a school (details supplied) [13337/26]
164. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the cuts to SNA provision in a school (details supplied). [13338/26]
165. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the cuts to SNA provision in a school (details supplied) [13339/26]
166. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth tthe number of SNAs to be redeployed in the 2026/2027 school year by county, in tabular form. [13340/26]
167. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools who had SNA provision downgraded on review for the 2026/2027 school by county, in tabular form. [13341/26]
168. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used to determine SNA eligibility for Level 1 and Level 2 needs children [13342/26]
169. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs in North Kildare from 2019-2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13344/26]
170. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to address the shortage of SNAs and special school places in North Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13345/26]
171. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the most recent number of children in Kildare who are waiting to be allocated a special class place in a mainstream primary school; the number in Kildare who are waiting on a special class place in a mainstream secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13349/26]
172. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the most recent number of children in Kildare who are waiting to be allocated a special school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13350/26]
173. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the number of additional new Special Needs Assistants recruited in 2025; the number of additional new Special Needs Assistants recruited to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13351/26]
174. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the number of Special Needs Assistants who have had their hours reduced or who have been let go from their role in 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13352/26]
175. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the schools in Kildare that have had their allocation of special needs assistants reduced for the following school year to date; the reduction in each school's allocation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13353/26]
176. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the significant reduction in the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied); the basis for this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13396/26]
177. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned about the impact that the significant reduction in the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied) will have on the students that require this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13397/26]
178. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any engagement she has had with the NCSE in relation to the reduction of SNA allocations to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13398/26]
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]