172. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the serious concerns raised by parents, educators and school leaders regarding the recently published NCSE guidelines for the SNA review process for 2025-26; if she will consider suspending or reviewing these guidelines pending meaningful consultation with stakeholders; if she will address specific issues (details supplied); if s…
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
178. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to approving the establishment of a special class in a school (details supplied) for the 2026-27 academic year, in view of the fact the school has identified an available classroom to accommodate such a class, that the school is centrally located, and that there is strong local demand from families for the provision…
194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will amend Circular 0010/2013 to allow for funding to be deposited into a school's account in order for it to purchase assistive technology equipment for eligible students, rather than the current scheme which puts pressure on smaller schools as they must purchase the equipment first and then be reimbursed, which creates situations where ce…
204. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to alter the status of tutors working under the home tuition scheme in terms of their recognition and inclusion within the broader education system, and their entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53432/25]
231. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [53785/25]
232. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53809/25]
233. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth f she will consider the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53790/25]
234. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ascertain from the NCSE the supports that are being made available to a child (details supplied) who has an autism diagnosis and has missed six months of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53792/25]
235. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that children in a school (details supplied) still have no start date. [53943/25]
282. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE narrows the definition of 'complex needs' and excludes many behavioural needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52632/25]
283. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE creates an overly limited application window of 15 September to 24 October for review thereby excluding mid-year needs assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52633/25]
284. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-26 published by the NCSE contain a requirement to evidence use of the RELATE framework which is not realistic for schools to demonstrate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52634/25]
285. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a pause on the implementation of the new SNA review process guidelines for 2025-2026 published by the NCSE, until parents, schools, and SNAs are meaningfully consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52635/25]
287. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the home tuition grant for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52665/25]
295. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) has received no additional SNA support since becoming a DEIS school in 2019. [52811/25]
304. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department and the National Council for Special Education will urgently review the allocation of SNA support for a school (details supplied); and provide greater transparency on the way in which allocations are determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52868/25]
59. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will abandon the new NCSE guidelines for the review of SNA allocations for the 2025/2026 school year and re-engage with school communities to ensure that review guidelines do not risk reducing supports for children with additional educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52167/25]
60. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to a detailed review and immediate suspension of the introduction of the 2025/2026 SNA review guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52169/25]
61. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will facilitate consultations with school communities over the 2025/2026 SNA review guidelines before they are implemented nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52170/25]
62. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the National Council for Special Education has issued substantially altered SNA review guidance ahead of the release of the new circular with increased demands on schools and a tight timeframe at the start of the school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52171/25]
63. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth in view of the 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines, regarding behaviours of concern (details supplied), if the emphasis in the new guidance on complex mental health needs, is meant to deny the right level of support to children and young people with severe communication or social emotional mental health needs; if so, who this will benefit; and if she will …
68. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she or the NCSE are currently carrying out a review of SNA allocations; the reason for the review; and the timeframes involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52294/25]
413. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the provision of an autism class for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51159/25]
427. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated completion date for new special classes at schools (details supplied); and when the school will commence for children with additional needs who were due to start in these classes [51241/25]
428. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of second level special class and special school places available in Dublin 9, 11 and 17 in 2025; and the projection for September 2026. [51242/25]