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

Ken O'Flynn Written 20 Nov 2025 · to Education
452. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNA allocation appeals lodged by Cork schools in 2025; and the proportion upheld in full or in part. [64993/25]
Ken O'Flynn Written 20 Nov 2025 · to Education
453. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Cork schools where the NCSE recommended no change in SNA allocation despite evidence of increased behavioural or high-support needs reported by the school. [64994/25]
Ken O'Flynn Written 20 Nov 2025 · to Education
454. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools nationally and in Cork that reported delays in accessing SENOs during the 2025 SNA review cycle; and the steps being taken to ensure timely support for 2026. [64995/25]
Ken O'Flynn Written 20 Nov 2025 · to Education
455. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Department has conducted any review of the consistency of NCSE decisions across counties, with specific reference to Cork; and if she will publish the results of any such review. [64996/25]
Naoise Ó Cearúil Written 19 Nov 2025 · to Education
136. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special education places that will be allocated to schools in Kildare north further to Budget 2026, which provided for 3,000 additional special education places nationwide for the 2026/27 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64075/25]
Naoise Ó Cearúil Written 19 Nov 2025 · to Education
137. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the sanctioning of special classes in mainstream schools in Kildare north under the 3,000 additional places announced in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64076/25]
Pearse Doherty Written 19 Nov 2025 · to Education
148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a special needs assistant national school redeployment application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64329/25]
Jennifer Whitmore Written 19 Nov 2025 · to Education
149. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if children applying to reading schools will continue to receive support from the National Council for Special Education after the 1 October parent notify process deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64330/25]
Mark Wall Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
426. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on an application by a school for an ASD unit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62763/25]
Duncan Smith Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
427. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update for the provision of a special education/autism class at a school (details supplied); the timeline for the delivery of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62772/25]
Seán Crowe Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
440. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the case of a person (details supplied) who is due to start senior cycle in a special school but is due to turn 18 this year and will be unable to finish senior cycle in that school; if an allowance can be made for this student to remain in the school. [62964/25]
Michael Cahill Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
443. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to assist a school (details supplied) in County Kerry in the purchase of additional autism equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63003/25]
John McGuinness Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
461. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school (details supplied) will get a special needs assistant care review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63194/25]
Mark Wall Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
464. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to ensure that every child with a disability can access a genuinely inclusive education in their local school with the necessary supports, staffing, and resources in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63213/25]
Mark Wall Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
465. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department plans to address the decline in the number of early-intervention and special classes for children with additional needs in Cork; her Department’s plans and timelines for expanding provision in the county to address the identified shortfall and ensure equitable access for all children with additional needs; and if she will…
Michael Cahill Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
466. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently grant an NCSE application to open a fifth special class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63232/25]
Louis O'Hara Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
467. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a review of special education hours for a school will be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63234/25]
Michael Healy-Rae Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
469. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application by a school (details supplied) to open a fifth special education class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63262/25]
James O'Connor Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
485. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a request to establish a special class within a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63554/25]
Darren O'Rourke Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 7 October 2025, when the review of the assistive technology scheme will be completed; and the timeframe recommended changes from this review will come into effect. [63577/25]
Robert Troy Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an urgent update on special educational needs provisions for a school (details supplied). [63591/25]
Albert Dolan Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
499. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the special education teaching allocation for a school (details supplied); if she will ensure that the school receives an allocation that accurately reflects the current needs of its pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63696/25]
Richard Boyd Barrett Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
500. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth for the trainings that are in place for bus drivers in State-funded bus services for disabled children, including privately contracted bus services, in particular school transport for special schools and special classes contracted through Bus Éireann, with respect to behaviours of concern and the needs of disabled passengers. [63700/25]
Michael Cahill Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
503. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to improve pay and conditions for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63795/25]
Michael Cahill Written 18 Nov 2025 · to Education
504. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to ensure that all new school builds include an autism class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63796/25]