462. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the pupils in an autism class (details supplied) are presenting with highly complex needs, including PICA, self-injurious behaviours and high levels of dysregulation; the steps her Department and the NCSE are taking to ensure that schools are not left without adequate resources to provide for these children’s right to an app…
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
468. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures announced in Budget 2026 which will specifically support children with additional needs in mainstream settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55135/25]
469. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide more detail on the way in which the 2026 allocation of SNAs and SETs will be deployed across mainstream and specialised settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55136/25]
472. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school in which no children with ‘primary care needs’ are enrolled will not receive SNA allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55150/25]
474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the NCSE will ensure that the SNA allocation process adequately identifies and supports children whose needs are not immediately visible in the classroom, for example, autistic children who mask their distress, in order that they are not effectively excluded from access to education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55…
476. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the application by a school (details supplied). [55200/25]
479. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details on the design of the in-school therapies being rolled out in special schools in 2025, especially in relation to the staffing arrangements for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55216/25]
480. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures in Budget 2026 which will target behaviours of concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55217/25]
486. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to direct the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to introduce extra time as a reasonable accommodation for students with specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia and dyscalculia, in the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations; the current status of the SECs review of this issue; the timelines for implementation;…
498. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the €3 billion in funding provided to special education in Budget 2026, the amount that is for existing levels of service and the amount for new measures. [55292/25]
513. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special classes that will be sanctioned from the SEN allocation of Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55326/25]
193. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the fact that in the 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines the application window for school led reviews is limited to 15 September to 24 October and excludes mid-year needs, if the Government will look to extend school led reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54407/25]
194. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the fact that in the 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines, SNA allocations are now unified across mainstream and special classes, this will lead to less support for children in mainstream if SNAs are reallocated; if she will instruct her Department to investigate this matter and ensure children have the support they need. [54408/25]
195. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the fact that several groups have expressed concerns regarding 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines, if she will instruct her Department to suspend the guidelines until proper consultation with schools, SNA’s and parents can occur. [54409/25]
199. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that the current role of SNA is not diminished in any way and that the behavioural, emotional and sensory needs of the child will remain explicitly recognised in SNA support; if a more flexible rolling review process will be provided so children’s changing needs can be supported in real time; if she will ensure greater transpare…
200. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); the way in which the SNA guidelines will affect children with additional needs; and if she will commit to ensuring that the cases such as these have all necessary supports. [54518/25]
197. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to review the NCSE policy requiring exclusive clinical wording for access to autism classes, in cases where a clinician recommends placement, given concerns that this may prevent children from receiving appropriate supports based on professional advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53980/25]
206. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the Supreme Court ruling (details supplied) the steps her Department has taken to review and update its policies to ensure full compliance with the clarified duty to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54095/25]
207. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will revise its approach to explanatory notes on Leaving Certificates for students who receive accommodations, to avoid disclosing disabilities and prevent potential discrimination in future employment or education opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54096/25]
208. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the guidance that has issued to schools regarding the scope and nature of reasonable accommodations, particularly in relation to dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54097/25]
209. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth how her Department is ensuring that schools consistently apply reasonable accommodations across the country; the mechanisms in place to monitor compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54098/25]
210. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the avenues available to students and families who believe they have been denied appropriate accommodations; if her Department will consider establishing a dedicated appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54099/25]
211. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has introduced or updated training programmes for school staff on disability rights and inclusive education following a Supreme Court judgment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54100/25]
212. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will publish data on the number of students receiving accommodations; the types of supports provided; any complaints or legal actions taken under the Equal Status Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54101/25]
226. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will work with the NCSE to ensure that the request from a school (details supplied) to open two additional autism classes will be sanctioned without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54187/25]