521. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to increase funding for the provision of SNAs to ensure all children and young people who require assistance can access it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61564/25]
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.
-
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
535. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the application process for reading schools; the NCSEs role in managing and determining applications to reading schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61726/25]
551. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the SNA Review Process guidelines for 2025/26 published by the NCSE. in particular: the evidence or consultation informed the narrowed application window (15 September – 24 October) and the reason mid-year applications are not accommodated; the way in which the unification of SNA allocations across mainstream and special classes ensures tha…
552. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be granted an additional autism class for 2026-2027. [62027/25]
559. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address issues concerning the interpretation of the term “SSD of unknown origin” by SLT’s in the HSE to exclude children with disabilities from accessing developmental language disorder or speech sound disorder special classes (details supplied). [62128/25]
564. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to sanction more early intervention classes in Kildare; the number that will be available in 2026; the number of places that will be available in total; the number that will be available for new students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62238/25]
879. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children with disabilities or additional needs which are participating in the Access and Inclusion Model across early learning and childcare settings in County Laois; the trends year-on-year; the further measures which are planned to increase inclusion in mainstream early years for children with disabilities; and if she wi…
1051. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the status of an application to fund a laptop for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61764/25]
228. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider sanctioning an ASD special class in a school (details supplied) for September 2026, considering the significant need demonstrated in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60521/25]
234. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the new Inclusive Education for All strategy 2025-2028 will address barriers faced by students with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60703/25]
239. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional special education places will be provided in the Castleisland region to cater for those with additional needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60759/25]
246. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a child's medical reports recommend they attend a special class or a special school; if the child will be provided with a preliminary determination of eligibility to a special class placement; or if there is a policy/ direction in place that only one will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60861/25]
247. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to ensure a child (details supplied) receives a place in an appropriate ASD unit in a secondary school for 2026-2027. [60865/25]
106. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a project (details supplied) for an ASD class; the reason for the delays; if the project will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60264/25]
8. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on staffing issues in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58318/25]
25. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has taken a position to open no more "reading classes" for children with severe dyslexia; to clarify the basis on which any such decision has been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59675/25]
28. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to improve access to appropriate education for children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59703/25]
33. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proposals to ensure adequate provision of SNAs for schools this academic year. [59757/25]
39. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans in place to support children without a special needs school place in this school year. [59598/25]
49. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59759/25]
50. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to address over 800 vacancies in special education classes, as reported by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59581/25]
51. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for a new second-level special school in the Youghal school planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59679/25]
54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding provided for special education at primary and second level in 2025; the total financial provision for this sector in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59678/25]
56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason education therapy services have not been provided to children with additional needs in mainstream schools in Budget 2026; and the measures being taken to ensure the same support is provided to these children in contrast with children attending special education schools. [59668/25]
58. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress of repurposing works at the new special school site (details supplied) in County Cork; to provide an estimated timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58317/25]