212. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the proposal to remove the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement will put further pressure on waiting lists for SEN places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73170/25]
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
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129
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115
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99
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92
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86
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80
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68
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
213. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the requirements for a child to qualify for a SEN school placement in lieu of an assessment of need, as part of her proposals to amend the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73172/25]
214. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the comments of a union (details supplied) in relation to the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73174/25]
215. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with teacher unions as part of the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73176/25]
216. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement will increase waiting lists in schools that are already at overcapacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73178/25]
245. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for details of any research carried out into the merits of the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73167/25]
246. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the proposal to remove the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement will put further pressure on waiting lists for SEN places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73169/25]
247. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the requirements for a child to qualify for a SEN school placement in lieu of an assessment of need, as part of her proposals to amend the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73171/25]
248. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the comments of a union (details supplied) in relation to the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73173/25]
249. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with teacher unions as part of the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73175/25]
250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the proposed removal of the requirement for a child to have an assessment of need carried out prior to being allocated a SEN school placement will increase waiting lists in schools that are already at overcapacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73177/25]
414. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth to detail each of the SEBD special schools across Ireland, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71314/25]
425. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of personnel employed across all State agencies who support special education in post primary schools (details supplied); the total annual expenditure associated with these roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71387/25]
428. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers currently working in special education teaching roles hold a recognised qualification in special education; if she will provide this information in tabular form; if the Department plans to expand conversion or upskilling routes; the training is provided to external professionals who work with schools; and if she will make a s…
432. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the level of engagement her Department has had with special schools in relation to the Education Therapy Service recruitment campaign run by the HCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71494/25]
433. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the special schools in Mayo which will be supported under the current Education Therapy Service recruitment campaign; the levels of supports from OT, and speech and language therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71496/25]
434. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the NCSE has restricted the application window for SNA review requests between 15 September to 24 October; whether she will commit to allowing applications throughout the school year to reflect emerging needs beyond such small windows of opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71501/25]
435. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for unifying SNA allocations across mainstream and special classes; the measures which are in place to ensure autism class resources are not diluted or redeployed to the detriment of children with higher levels of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71506/25]
436. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason behavioural care needs have been excluded from the definition of complex needs and level 3 care needs; whether she will review this definition in consultation with practitioners and parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71502/25]
437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools are expected to provide evidence implementation of the Relate document within the six-week review window, given the absence of adequate training and preparation; whether additional time and resources will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71503/25]
438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will provide assurances that no child currently receiving SNA support will lose that support due to the new NCSE guidelines; and if a robust and accessible appeals process will be guaranteed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71504/25]
439. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the specific points regarding the opening of an autism class raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71520/25]
445. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the SNA review application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71579/25]
448. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to a request for a second special class in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71644/25]
465. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71930/25]