Special Educational Needs

408. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will fulfil the commitment made by the former Minister of Education and Youth and meet with the principal of a school (details supplied) to discuss the urgent need for additional autism class provision within their school, and wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65810/25]

426. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider increasing the number of posts of responsibility in a special school, bearing in mind that special schools generally have a large staff of SNAs and ancillary staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65938/25]

434. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools and students that will be included in the pilot programme (RACE accommodations) for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia for the upcoming 2026 examinations; and if she will roll this out to all eligible students across the State in the interest of fairness and equity for the 2026 examinations. [65950/25]

435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to ensure that the child in question is provided with necessary supports. [65969/25]

413. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there is a mandate for the inclusion of special education classes in all new schools sanctioned by her Department; and if so, whether this is an automatic requirement or decided on a case-by-case basis. [64693/25]

414. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans of the NCSE for the 2026 academic year for the Dublin northwest area, including the number of new special education places needed. [64694/25]

415. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new special education places that will be provided in the Dublin northwest area, broken down by whether they will be in mainstream settings, special classes, or special schools; and to specify whether any new special schools or classes are due to open by September 2026. [64695/25]

416. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth how far beyond 2026 the NCSE and the Department have planned regarding the provision of sufficient special education places at primary and post-primary level; and to provide details of any long-term forecasts or capital and workforce planning work currently underway. [64696/25]

417. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the NCSE’s expression of interest process for 2026 school places for children with special educational needs, given that the online form closed in October 2025 and has since been removed from the NCSE website; and the alternative mechanism has been put in place for parents to express interest beyond t…

418. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parents that have completed the NCSE expression of interest form for 2026; and the number of parents the NCSE had expected or invited to complete it but have not yet done so. [64698/25]

420. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated number of children expected to require special education places in second-level settings, including mainstream supported places, special classes, and special schools in the Dublin northwest area over the next five years. [64700/25]

429. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Cork who notified the NCSE by 1 October 2025 that they require an autism-specific class or special school place for the 2026–2027 school year; the number of new classes required to meet this demand; the number sanctioned to date; and the steps she will take to guarantee that all eligible children in Cork r…

436. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Cork City and Cork County who notified the NCSE by 1 October 2025 that they require an autism-specific class or special school place for the 2026-2027 school year, by primary and post-primary level. [64977/25]

437. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new autism classes that the NCSE has identified as required in Cork for 2026-2027; and the number that have been sanctioned to date. [64978/25]

438. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Cork that reported having no available accommodation for a new autism class during the 2025 NCSE planning process. [64979/25]

439. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of eligibility letters issued by SENOs in Cork from January to October 2025; and the number of these children remain without a confirmed placement. [64980/25]

440. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average and longest waiting time reported by Cork parents seeking autism-specific class placements for 2025-2026; and whether the Department tracks these waiting times. [64981/25]

441. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special class places lost or temporarily unavailable in Cork due to school accommodation constraints in 2025; and the steps being taken to prevent recurrence in 2026. [64982/25]

442. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Cork that requested an SNA review between September and October 2025; and the number of these reviews that remain pending. [64983/25]

443. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Cork schools that received reduced SNA allocations following the 2025 NCSE review; and the reasons recorded by the NCSE for each reduction. [64984/25]

444. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of NCSE SNA review recommendations nationally and in Cork that were issued outside the six-week review window; and the impact on schools preparing for 2026. [64985/25]

445. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any assessment has been carried out on whether the definitions of "complex care needs" and "level 3 care needs" used in the 2025-26 SNA review process adequately reflect the needs of students in autism classes; and if she will publish this assessment. [64986/25]

446. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of autism class applications in Cork redirected by the NCSE due to capacity issues in preferred schools for the 2025-26 school year, and the number expected for 2026-27. [64987/25]

447. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the NCSE has completed a capacity audit of all post-primary schools in Cork to determine which schools can accommodate new autism classes for 2026-27, and if she will publish the findings. [64988/25]

448. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Cork that identified for reconfiguration or minor works to support the opening of new autism classes for 2026-27, and the expected timelines for completion. [64989/25]