1047. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to expanding the number of early intervention classes in Kerry, where access remains limited despite increased demand from parents and local schools. [41382/25]
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.
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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
1050. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the distribution of the 1,600 new special needs assistant posts for new special classes, new special schools, and existing schools with increasing care needs or pending reviews by the NCSE, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41400/25]
1053. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Youth if alternative school places have been sought for children who were offered autism class placements at a school (details supplied) and now have been left with no school place for September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41431/25]
1060. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will explore the possibility of loaning or purchasing land from South Dublin County Council to provide space for a required special class for a school (details supplied). [41455/25]
1077. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Youth regarding pupils with a diagnosis of autism who have been granted additional supports in schools, the interim measures her Department will support between now and 2027 to ensure pupils have daily access to a qualified SLT in a school (details supplied); the services or pilots available to these pupils this coming term; the named point of contac…
1079. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with additional needs who are on short school days this year, and for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41726/25]
1080. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update, including a timeline, for the new ASD classes for a school (details supplied). [41727/25]
1081. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update including a timeline for the new ASD classes for a school (details supplied). [41729/25]
1093. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 461, 462 and 463 of 15 July 2025, if she will acknowledge that the new circular facilitating admissions to developmental language disorder/speech sound disorder classes is exclusionary towards one particular cohort of students who would benefit from the supports offered in these classes, namely childr…
1098. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine the case of a child (details supplied); if she will set out the supports that will be made available to the child and the child’s family to address the child’s lack of a suitable school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41862/25]
1099. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the special education review committee was last reviewed in the context of moderate general learning classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41946/25]
1100. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to assist in securing a place in a primary school autism spectrum unit for a child (details supplied) with a diagnosis of ASD for the 2026-2027 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41962/25]
1102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for delays to review of SNA allocation at a school (details supplied), where parents are concerned that there are not enough resources to support their children's needs. [42027/25]
1111. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who will be seeking secondary level special education provision in the east-central, Cork network in September 2025; and the number and location of available school places. [42240/25]
1112. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who will be seeking secondary level special education provision in the North- East, Cork network in September 2025, and for the number and location of available school places. [42241/25]
1115. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a response will issue to a matter raised in correspondence by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42397/25]
1117. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will expedite the expansion of the provision of special classes in mainstream post-primary schools for students with mild intellectual disabilities, including those with Down syndrome; if she is aware of the difficulties families are facing in securing appropriate placements for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter…
1118. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will develop a dedicated strategy to ensure that children with Down syndrome who require a place in a special class in a mainstream school are appropriately accommodated; if she acknowledges that the current system is not meeting the needs of this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42415/25]
1119. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the impact of the special schools redesignation on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42428/25]
1120. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the impact of the special schools redesignation on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42429/25]
1132. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average cost of providing a nurture room in a school. [42509/25]
1140. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the action she has taken to ensure that there will be an appropriate special class for a group of students (details supplied) in the Dún Laoghaire area. [42524/25]
1157. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 12 June 2025, if she will consider pausing the redesignation of mild general learning disability schools to reflect that they serve as centres of excellence for the management of subset of special education needs (details supplied) which will be less well met in mainstream schools even with additi…
1158. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 12 June 2025, if she will consider pausing the redesignation of mild general learning disability schools to reflect that they serve as centres of excellence for the management of subset of special education needs (details supplied) which will be less well met in mainstream schools even with additi…
1163. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently intervene to resolve the situation at school (details supplied), where an approved ASD class has been supressed; the steps her Department is taking to ensure that these children receive the appropriate support and placement in line with their assessed needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42856/25]