Special Educational Needs

225. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans in terms of the EPSEN report recommendation to bring forward legislation to change the present situation wherein students in special schools cannot legally continue education after their eighteenth birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38537/25]

227. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the new services for children with special needs in County Wexford for which funding was sought for delivery in 2025; the funding sought for each initiative project, the funding allocated to each to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38576/25]

229. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Education and Youth to explain and provide documentary evidence of the rationale and detailed planning for re-designation of mild general learning disability schools to include children with more complex needs; how human and educational resources will be provided and utilised to ensure all children will receive equal assistance, attention and opport…

305. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if children with an ASD diagnosis can be refused access to pre-schools due to their diagnosis; to outline if children have a right to pre-school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38518/25]

39. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the SNA allocation for moderate general learning disability classes could be reviewed in order that the allocation is on par with ASD classes, given the complex medical needs in these classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37977/25]

42. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to respond to reports of children with a diagnosis of autism who, in their autism report, it is stated that they need SNA support, and it is recommended by the SENO, in some cases, and then it is being denied by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37985/25]

43. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department plans to review SNA allocation criteria to include the sensory and emotional regulation needs of children with autism which is crucial to their learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37988/25]

46. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for additional special needs assistants submitted to her Department; and the number of these applications approved and refused, in tabular form. [38029/25]

47. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that SENOs are making recommendations for additional special needs assistants for schools, and these requests are being denied by the NCSE; and if she will examine this. [38031/25]

48. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025; the number of primary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38077/25]

49. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth ; further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, the number of secondary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38078/25]

50. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if additional school places at both primary and secondary school level will be provided in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38…

51. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of families in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area that have children with Down syndrome regarding the availability of special classes in their local community for children with a general learning disability, not relat…

56. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) with a diagnosis of autism and a clear recommendation for one-on-one SNA support in a mainstream class has been refused by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38100/25]

57. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if autism classes will commence in schools (details supplied) in September 2026, as previously indicated by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38106/25]

58. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to supporting the upskilling of parents and carers to fill the capacity gap for special needs assistants whilst ensuring that their carer's allowance is not affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38107/25]

59. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any details will be provided as to the number of children in Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 who are currently seeking autism classes and places in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38108/25]

61. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will intervene to ensure approval and that resources are allocated to allow the opening of an ASD unit at a school (details supplied). [38166/25]

67. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will overturn the planned freeze on SNA allocations for schools due to the increasing need for such staff and the vital role they play in both the classroom and the school environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38225/25]

382. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on an announced sanctioned special class for a school (details supplied); to provide details on when the admissions process will commence; when the class will be ready; whether this class has actually been sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37124/25]

383. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin 15 awaiting a place in a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37125/25]

384. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the shortfall of places for children in Dublin 15 for a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37126/25]

388. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her Department’s efforts to provide summer provision for two families (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37155/25]

390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current average processing time for schools’ applications to the NCSE for additional SNA supports following a formal diagnosis; the difference in response time between mainstream schools and special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37175/25]

391. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average waiting time for a child with a diagnosis of moderate to severe or profound intellectual disability to be offered an appropriate school placement, by county, and by category of need, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37176/25]