Special Educational Needs
An official questions-paper heading. 2,799 questions (33 oral, 2,766 written), first 2025-01-22, latest 2026-07-28.
Questions under this heading, per month
Jan 2025Jul 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 31 |
| Feb 2025 | 124 |
| Mar 2025 | 114 |
| Apr 2025 | 160 |
| May 2025 | 134 |
| Jun 2025 | 183 |
| Jul 2025 | 215 |
| Sep 2025 | 113 |
| Oct 2025 | 76 |
| Nov 2025 | 191 |
| Dec 2025 | 122 |
| Jan 2026 | 163 |
| Feb 2026 | 283 |
| Mar 2026 | 270 |
| Apr 2026 | 167 |
| May 2026 | 181 |
| Jun 2026 | 171 |
| Jul 2026 | 101 |
Addressed to
| Department | Questions |
|---|---|
| Education | 2,737 |
| Children | 37 |
| Health | 17 |
| Further and Higher Education | 5 |
| Social | 3 |
Debates under the same heading
Dáil debate sections whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
Jennifer Whitmore
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
101. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the changes coming in under the redesignation of special schools will come into place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36407/25]
Sorca Clarke
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
102. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average waiting time for a child with ASD to be allocated a place in a special class, including the length of time children are waiting on their local school’s SNA and resources list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36446/25]
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
103. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of general learning disability classes currently being provided at both primary and post-primary school level throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36474/25]
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
104. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth at a national level, the number of children with Down syndrome currently enrolled in five distinct settings (details supplied). [36475/25]
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
105. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a review has been undertaken of the educational provision for children with mild and moderate general learning disabilities (GLD) in mainstream schools since the introduction of the General Allocation Model in 2005, which saw the suppression of GLD classes in primary schools; if not, the reasons for this lack of review; an…
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
106. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications or expressions of interest received in the past year from parents or schools for access to mild and moderate general learning disability classes in children’s local area schools, which have not resulted in the opening of such classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36477/25]
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
107. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to support children with mild or moderate general learning disabilities (GLD) in mainstream schools, given the limited establishment of GLD classes in primary schools and the increasing necessity for families to seek placement in special schools, often far from their communities; and if she will make a statem…
Albert Dolan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
108. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to support the transition of children with general learning disabilities (GLD) from primary to post-primary education, particularly where a child has had access to a GLD class or significant special educational needs support in primary school, but faces exclusion from post-primary schools in their catchment a…
Tom Brabazon
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
111. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the names of schools that are providing the summer education programme in the Dublin 5, 13 and 17 postcode areas, in tabular form. [36509/25]
Conor Sheehan
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
114. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will introduce special educational needs co-ordinators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36563/25]
John Brady
written
2025-07-02 · to Education
117. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth why the NCSE has decided not to go ahead with creating an ASD class in a school (details supplied); to provide a timeline for when the school will be allowed to open the ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36592/25]
Cian O'Callaghan
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
335. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth what recourse is available for a parent where their child has additional needs child and is not receiving the agreed weekly hours with a special education teacher in school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35286/25]
Mark Ward
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
336. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied) for the upcoming year; the reason there was no increase in this allocation; if this decision will be reviewed given the student/SNA ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35292/25]
Louis O'Hara
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
344. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the results of the SNA allocation review at a school (details supplied); if surplus SNA posts were identified; the number of surplus posts identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35351/25]
Darren O'Rourke
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
349. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will increase investment and expand special schools and classes catering for children with mild general learning disabilities. [35423/25]
Darren O'Rourke
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
350. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will reverse any decision made to send children with mild general learning disabilities back into mainstream classes-schools. [35424/25]
Darren O'Rourke
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
351. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will reverse the redesignation of special classes, which will place children with mild general learning disabilities back into mainstream classes. [35425/25]
Michael Healy-Rae
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
356. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an allowance will be given to principals in recognition of leading and managing non-teaching staff (details supplied); if an allowance will be given to teachers and principals working in special need schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35585/25]
Danny Healy-Rae
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
359. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the case for extra SNA spaces at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35612/25]
Darren O'Rourke
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
377. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth considering the rising population and increasing demand in Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne, the measures she is taking to secure additional ASD classes in schools in these areas. [35714/25]
Danny Healy-Rae
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
383. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a request for a teacher by a school (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35904/25]
James O'Connor
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
398. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the SNA allocation for a special school (details supplied); if this allocation will be increased given 23 new pupils with complex additional needs will be starting in September 2025; if she is aware the principal has stated that they will require eight SNAs for the 2025-2026 academic year to deal with the …
James O'Connor
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
399. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding an SNA allocation review which took place in respect of a school (details supplied); if this matter will be re-examined given the additional need expressed by the principal; if there is an appeals mechanism available in respect of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36067/25]
John Brady
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
403. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to define explicitly what she deems complex needs as per her use of the term in circular 0039/2025 to special schools. [36079/25]
Barry Ward
written
2025-07-01 · to Education
407. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of families that have children with Downes syndrome regarding the availability of special classes for children with a general learning disability, not related to ASD, within mainstream schools; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the mat…