Topics / Special Educational Needs

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Special 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
MonthQuestions
January 202531
February 2025124
March 2025114
April 2025160
May 2025134
June 2025183
July 2025215
August 20250
September 2025113
October 202576
November 2025191
December 2025122
January 2026163
February 2026283
March 2026270
April 2026167
May 2026181
June 2026171
July 2026101
August 20260
September 202644
October 202678

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.

  • 100% RDR3 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú77 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil539 from 37 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael416 from 24 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party40 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent169 from 13 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland121 from 4 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party276 from 11 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity133 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin902 from 38 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 139
  2. 129
  3. 115
  4. 99
  5. 92
  6. 86
  7. 80
  8. 68

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Eoghan Kenny Oral 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
95. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Government’s decision-making processes for assisting children in State examinations with specific learning difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10098/26]
Louis O'Hara Oral 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
100. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate SET and SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9696/26]
Paul Lawless Oral 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
101. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected timeline for the roll-out of the 1,717 additional SNAs and 860 additional SETs announced as part of budget 2026; the regional allocation model; and the measures in place to ensure timely recruitment. [11013/26]
Joanna Byrne Oral 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
104. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11023/26]
Eoin Ó Broin Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
107. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on efforts by her Department and the NCSE to increase ASD class capacity for boys in the Clondalkin area for the coming school year, given there are a small number of boys without an appropriate placement to move on to from their current placements in ASD classes in girls’ schools in the area. [10985/26]
Joanna Byrne Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
110. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the action being taken to address the barriers in place for children in Drogheda and beyond seeking special school places for the next school term because they have missed the arbitrary cut-off time imposed by NCSE to apply for places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11022/26]
Naoise Ó Cearúil Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
111. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department oversees the consistency and transparency of NCSE decisions on SET and SNA allocations for post-primary schools; the mechanisms that exist to address cases where schools report unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11005/26]
Peter Roche Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
115. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average timeframe for a mainstream school to receive additional SNA hours once a new or increased need is identified during the school year; whether she is satisfied that this timeframe supports inclusion, wellbeing, and continuity of education for the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11110/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
117. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will meet with the principal of a school (details supplied) to discuss the urgent need for additional autism class provision within their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11072/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
118. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will collect data on the number of children and young people who are recommended specialist placement but do not receive one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10574/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
120. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will equalise funding for special classes at primary and post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10573/26]
Eoghan Kenny Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
123. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have applied for special educational needs classes and schools; the number of classes allocated; the number of children still waiting for a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10101/26]
James O'Connor Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
138. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline her engagement with an organisation (details supplied) Youghal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11070/26]
Pa Daly Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
154. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will approve a second special education class for a school (details supplied) for the academic year 2026-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10478/26]
Emer Currie Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
164. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide additional supports to special schools to assist with the day-to-day running costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10878/26]
Matt Carthy Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
171. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeframe to deliver a permanent special school in County Monaghan. [9095/26]
Ruairí Ó Murchú Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
173. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress being made to create an alternative to assessment of needs reports in order to access appropriate school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9920/26]
Mark Ward Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
198. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education places notifications submitted by schools after the 1 October deadline; the reason the October deadline was chosen; the way in which she plans to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11052/26]
Michael Cahill Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
201. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently address the severe cuts in SNAs across multiple schools in Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10968/26]
Barry Heneghan Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
202. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions her Department is taking to ensure that every child with special educational needs can access an appropriate school place in their local area, including the timely provision of special classes and special school places, adequate special education teacher and special needs assistant allocations, and access to therapies and supports withi…
Thomas Gould Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the opening of the special school in Carraig na bFhearr. [10020/26]
Martin Kenny Written 12 Feb 2026 · to Education
209. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will provide a second special education class for a school (details supplied); and if her Department will retain the second special education class in another school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10945/26]
Roderic O'Gorman Written 11 Feb 2026 · to Education
129. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the working definition used by her Department for the term inclusion and for the term complex needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10532/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh Written 11 Feb 2026 · to Education
132. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline recent changes to the home tuition scheme; her views on the additional requirement for a psychological report within six-months; if she is aware of the exclusionary effects of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10538/26]
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh Written 11 Feb 2026 · to Education
133. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 4 February 2026, if she will confirm if any of the classes listed on the NCSE website are early intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10541/26]