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]
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
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. [38079/25]
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 related to ASD; and if sh…
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]
397. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with special educational needs in rural parts of the country that have to travel outside their area to receive appropriate education in cities or large towns due to lack of services in their own area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37250/25]
405. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the case of a child (details supplied) in need of SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37305/25]
406. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason SNA hours have been refused for a very vulnerable child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37323/25]