Topics / Special Educational Needs

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Special 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
MonthQuestions
January 202531
February 2025124
March 2025114
April 2025160
May 2025134
June 2025183
July 2025215
August 20250
September 2025113
October 202576
November 2025191
December 2025122
January 2026163
February 2026283
March 2026270
April 2026167
May 2026181
June 2026171
July 2026101
August 20260
September 202644
October 202678

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.

  • 100% RDR3 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú77 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil539 from 37 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael416 from 24 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party40 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent169 from 13 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland121 from 4 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party276 from 11 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity133 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin902 from 38 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 139
  2. 129
  3. 115
  4. 99
  5. 92
  6. 86
  7. 80
  8. 68

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Grace Boland Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Education
1020. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the eligibility requirement is for pupils with dyslexia to access technology supports at primary and post primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47109/25]
Noel McCarthy Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Education
1028. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which demand is currently assessed for the planning of special education provision; if her Department is considering a review of the current assessment method given that data suggests a higher autism and spectrum disability prevalence than what is currently being forecasted for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47187/25]
Brendan Smith Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Education
1030. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will give detailed consideration to the issues relating to primary and special education with specific reference to Budget 2026 and the pre-Budget submission by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47223/25]
Edward Timmins Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Education
1039. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the opening of a special school (details supplied). [47331/25]
John Clendennen Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Education
1054. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration is being given to the introduction of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in schools with three or more special education posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47543/25]
James O'Connor Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Social
1321. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding employment services and specialist training supports for adults who are on the autism spectrum; if he can provide an update on the efforts being undertaken by his Department to support adults who are on the autism spectrum in securing employment opportunities, in the context of recent statistics (details supplied); and if he w…
Emer Currie Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Children
1908. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Health Service Executive disability services in the Dublin north city & west (IHA DNCW) area can receive an additional allocation of multi disciplinary staff for CDNTs in 2025, in view of the increase of 12 students at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45137/25]
Michael Cahill Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Children
1930. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the lack of external oversight or appeals process when children are expelled from ECCE-funded preschools, particularly those with additional needs. [45456/25]
Michael Cahill Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Children
1931. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are plans to standardise policies across all ECCE providers regarding the handling of behavioural issues in children with additional needs. [45457/25]
Michael Cahill Written 8 Sep 2025 · to Children
1932. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which access and inclusion model supports are being evaluated for effectiveness when preschools expel children with ASD despite support being in place. [45458/25]
Eamon Scanlon Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
971. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the reopening of the second autism class in a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40713/25]
Darren O'Rourke Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
973. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of staff who work in early intervention classes across the State. [40741/25]
Darren O'Rourke Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
974. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing staff in early intervention classes by 5%, up to a maximum of 50%. [40742/25]
John McGuinness Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
990. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the SNA provision for the 2025-2026 academic year will be increased based on the submission made by a school (details supplied), and the SENO. [40769/25]
Claire Kerrane Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
997. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40816/25]
Claire Kerrane Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
998. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40817/25]
Claire Kerrane Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
999. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40818/25]
Claire Kerrane Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1000. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40819/25]
Louis O'Hara Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1002. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No.376 of 24 June 2025, if a response will issued from the SEC. [40866/25]
Aindrias Moynihan Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1008. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding allocated to special education services over the past three years; the number of students served and the type of support provided, by region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40949/25]
Aindrias Moynihan Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1015. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education teachers and special needs assistants assigned to schools, both primary and post-primary, in Cork since 2021; if the assessed demand for both special education teachers and special needs assistants across the Cork region is being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40956/25]
Aindrias Moynihan Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1016. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up-to-date position on the current availability and adequacy of provision of education places for children with additional and complex needs in Cork city and county; the current number of special school places, autism classes, children awaiting placement and planned expansion for 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4…
Sean Fleming Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1022. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether additional special education teaching hours will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41014/25]
Michael Cahill Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1044. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the supports available to schools in Kerry that wish to partially integrate children with ASD into mainstream classes; and if an increase to SNAs and staff training will be provided in the region to make this feasible. [41379/25]
Michael Cahill Written 29 Jul 2025 · to Education
1045. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to granting schools in Kerry more flexibility to manage enrolment in special classes, particularly where a child's needs significantly exceed the available resources, while ensuring that child is offered appropriate alternatives locally. [41380/25]