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]
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
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; and if she will make a…
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]
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 statement on the matter. […
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 area due to the absen…
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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 significant addition…
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]
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]
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 matter. [36111/25]
411. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth who will determine whether a student has MGLD or ‘complex MGLD’ as per her use in the 0039/2025 circular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36172/25]
412. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the additional supports that will be put in place for students with MGLD who may return to mainstream education under her re-designation of special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36173/25]
413. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage directly with teachers, school leaders and families to consult with them meaningfully before further implementation of re-designation of special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36174/25]