Special Educational Needs

326. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of meetings held with special needs assistants and their representative organisations during the development of the SNA workforce development plan; whether direct consultation took place with frontline SNAs; and if she will provide details of the consultation process. [47165/26]

327. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the considerations given to the importance of continuity of relationships between special needs assistants and pupils with additional educational needs when developing the proposed allocation and redeployment arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47166/26]

328. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has undertaken an assessment of recruitment and retention challenges within the special needs assistant workforce; whether the proposed circular is expected to improve retention rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47167/26]

329. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that special needs assistants are being asked under the proposed SNA workforce development plan to undertake expanded duties, mandatory professional development and increased workplace flexibility without any corresponding commitment to enhanced pay, allowances or career progression opportunities; and if she will ma…

330. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to deliver school transport for the July provision programme at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47169/26]

331. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for a delay in the sanctioning of home based hours for July provision as opposed to last year; when these hours will be sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47170/26]

332. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a new special school at a location (details supplied); the number of places that will be available; the enrolment procedures; if staff have been hired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47205/26]

333. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any consideration was given during the development of the SNA workforce development plan to the introduction of additional remuneration, allowances or incremental payments for special needs assistants in recognition of expanded duties and mandatory professional development requirements; and if she will make a statement on the m…

334. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of hours of mandatory training and professional development that will be required of special needs assistants under the proposed revised circular; whether these hours will be compensated through additional pay, time off in lieu or other measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47227/26]

335. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the requirement for special needs assistants to complete an additional 72 hours outside normal school attendance days was reviewed as part of the SNA workforce development plan; the rationale for retaining this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47228/26]

336. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants redeployed between schools in each of the past five school years; the number anticipated to be redeployed under the new allocation model; her views on the impact of redeployment on continuity of support for children with additional educational needs.; and if she will make a statement on the m…

337. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration was given to the introduction of qualification-based increments or allowances for special needs assistants holding level six, level seven, level eight or postgraduate qualifications relevant to their role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47230/26]

338. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment undertaken of the impact of the proposed SNA allocation model on small primary schools with a single SNA post; and the mechanisms available where additional needs arise during the school year. [47231/26]

339. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the revised SNA allocation model will ensure that autistic and other neurodivergent pupils whose needs relate primarily to communication, emotional regulation, social interaction or school attendance can access appropriate support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47232/26]

340. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment of the SNA workforce development plan; whether such assessment examined the impact on pupils with disabilities and additional educational needs; and if she will publish the findings. [47233/26]

341. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated annual cost of implementing the SNA workforce development plan; the additional funding allocated for training, professional development and implementation supports; and if she will provide a breakdown of these costs. [47234/26]

344. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if provision will be made to allow parents to transfer from school-based July provision to home-based July provision in circumstances where parents enrolled in the school-based programme in good faith, but the school is now unable to provide the programme due to staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matt…

347. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason special needs assistants are required to attend in-service training courses in their own time outside of school hours, without receiving either leave in lieu or monetary payment; if she will review the mechanism for the provision of such courses for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47316/26]

356. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason sanction approvals for the 2026 Home-Based Summer Programme have not yet issued to participating families; the number of applications received to date; when sanction emails will issue to parents and guardians; and the measures being taken to ensure that children do not lose access to tutors or programme hours as a resul…

364. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions being taken to ensure adequate special needs assistants (SNA's) staffing levels in view of reports that shortages of SNAs are resulting in Summer Provision Programmes being cancelled, thereby depriving children with additional needs of essential support; the number of Summer Provision Programmes that have been affecte…

365. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person will not get placed on a panel for employment opportunities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47524/26]

369. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47562/26]

379. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if alternative arrangements are possible for children who have been approved for home-based summer programme supports but who are in overcrowded or emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47681/26]

382. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47693/26]

383. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47694/26]