726. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views regarding the appointment of special education coordinators in every school; her views that it be included in a post of responsibility where there are education facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58479/25]
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
737. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether at least one of the suppressed posts at a school (details supplied) will be reconsidered to help alleviate unsustainable strain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58539/25]
738. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work being undertaken by her Department to review accessibility in LCA assessment for the deaf and hard of hearing students; if she will consider the introduction of other forms of assessments that do not rely solely on audio components; if she will consult with deaf students, parents, teachers, and the representative society (details s…
739. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils in County Kildare receiving additional supports under the Special Education Teaching allocation for each year from 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58606/25]
748. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale behind the recent changes introduced by the National Council for Special Education to the role and allocation criteria for special needs assistants; if she will provide details of the consultation carried out with SNA representatives or school management prior to its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [586…
749. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has assessed the potential impact of the revised NCSE guidelines for special needs assistants on pupils who do not meet the new criteria of ‘primary care needs’ but who continue to require daily classroom support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58688/25]
750. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that changes to the SNA allocation model do not result in a reduction of supports for pupils with moderate or non-medical additional needs, including those requiring sensory breaks or behavioural assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58689/25]
751. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the communication strategy used by her Department and the National Council for Special Education to inform special needs assistants, principals, and boards of management of recent changes to SNA responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58690/25]
752. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new SNA posts announced for the 2025-2026 school year; if she will confirm whether any concurrent reductions or reallocations of existing SNA positions will occur as a result of the new NCSE guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58691/25]
753. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps which are being taken to ensure job security and professional recognition for special needs assistants, in view of concerns that the NCSE may redefine their role and responsibilities without consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58693/25]
788. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) for a school seeking to expedite approval for an ASD class.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58811/25]
801. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional supports will be provided for students with special educational needs in Cork city schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59029/25]
803. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the provision of special education classes in Mallow schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59031/25]
809. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the difficulties that have arisen for parents as a result of the introduction of the requirement for a letter of eligibility when applying for a place in a special class or special school; the process which is currently available to parents who did not apply before the NCSE portal closed on 1 October 2025; and to explain the m…
813. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the progress made establishing special school and special class places in County Meath, and whether further expansions are planned for 2026. [59116/25]
828. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional supports will be provided to special schools to assist with the day-to-day running costs, similar to supports provided in Budget 2024 and Budget 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59342/25]
829. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of changing the criteria of the capitation grant for special schools to consider all school staff or the square meter area of the school premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59343/25]
830. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider providing all special schools with an additional AP1 post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59344/25]
841. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's policy in relation to supplementing above SERC SNA allocation with hours from mainstream SNA's; her views on whether it is acceptable to undermine mainstream provision to fill gaps in above SERC allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59461/25]
842. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's policy in relation to above SERC SNA allocations; and to provide copies of any circulars and policy documents relating to this. [59462/25]
844. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans for increasing supports for special schools; if she will meet with a school (details supplied) regarding resourcing needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59466/25]
848. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will meet with the principal of a school (details supplied) to discuss the urgent need for an additional autism class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59562/25]
856. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to fund play therapists, including play therapists through school completion programme. [59692/25]
858. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to increase the number of special education places in Limerick city schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59751/25]
864. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline her Department’s plans to increase the number of SNAs and special education places, and to improve school buildings, school funding, school transport, teacher recruitment and retention for schools in Fingal east (details supplied). [59770/25]