Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

551. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 31 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will provide funding and guidelines to all schools to undertake an audit of their buildings with the aim of making them autism-friendly; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57277/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

552. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 32 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will outline the plans she has to reduce class sizes to allow teachers the opportunity to better observe the development of pupils, and to reduce distraction and distress for autistic pupils in overcrowded classrooms; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, of reducing the average class size by one, two and three pupils. [57278/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

553. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 33 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the National Council for Special Education to develop a long-term plan to synthesise mainstream and special educational provision in line with the UNCRPD. [57279/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

554. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 34 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she plans to ensure that children in special classes, autism classes and special schools can participate in mainstream educational classes to end the practice of segregation based on neurotype. [57280/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

555. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 35 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to update continuing professional development to ensure that education professionals, including teachers and SNAs, receive suitable autism training; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57281/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

556. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 36 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the National Council for Special Education to establish the number of pupils on reduced school hours and implement measures to reduce the use of such measures. [57282/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

557. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 37 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the HSE and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that children in special schools can access clinical supports in schools until such time as children's disability network teams, CDNTs, are fully staffed and access to services can be reviewed; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57283/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

558. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 38 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to increase the pay offered to SNAs and teachers for participating in a school-based summer programme to incentivise participation; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57284/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

559. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 39 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with children’s disability service providers to foster and encourage the participation of clinicians such as therapists and psychologists in the summer programme at an attractive rate of pay; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57285/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

560. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 40 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will work with the Department of Health to amend the Disability Act 2005 in tandem with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 and include a right to services as well as a right to an assessment of need. [57286/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

561. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 41 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to review established practices on transitioning to new schools throughout the education system, and provide more guidance and supports for schools in assisting pupils to transition between schools. [57287/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

562. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 42 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to establish a national transitions service to assist autistic children and adults as they transition into primary education, between schools, secondary education, university, employment and all other areas of life; the estimated first and full-year cost of establishing such a service; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57288/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

563. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 43 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to establish a clear pathway to access alternative and augmentative communication, and assistive technology, and ensure that autistic children and adults can access and retain AAC devices and supports throughout their lives; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57289/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

564. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 44 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to increase the funding allocated to alternative and augmentative communication, and assistive technology, to ensure that there are sufficient devices available to those who need them as well as training for the families of AAC users; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57290/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

565. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 45 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to review her Department’s policy on the role and priorities of a centre (details supplied). [57291/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

566. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 46 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will liaise with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to negotiate a mutual increase in funding to a centre (details supplied) to expand its services and apply its best practice model nationally; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57292/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

567. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 47 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will adopt a rights-based approach to the summer programme to ensure that it is regarded as an essential service for autistic children and their families; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57293/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

568. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 48 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will establish an agency or a dedicated section within her Department to manage the summer programme and ensure that it is made available in all schools, with the participation of trained external staff where internal staff are unavailable; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57294/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

569. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 49 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will develop a clear policy to ensure that there is a requirement that interventions provided within the context of special education are evidence-based and rights-based. [57295/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

570. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 50 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will liaise with a centre (details supplied) to provide continuous professional development training for SNAs and encourage participation by regarding them as additional hours worked under the Croke Park agreement; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57296/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

571. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 51 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will include a mandatory module on autism training as continuing professional development for teachers; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57297/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

572. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 52 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will ensure that all schools that are in receipt of public funding, whether public or private, foster more inclusive practices around autism, including the opening of special classes. [57298/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

573. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 53 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will design a template or guidelines for schools clearly explaining the steps that should be taken if behavioural challenges emerge in an educational setting, and ensure that protocols around restraint and penalisation are stated unambiguously, with a view towards eliminating these practices. [57299/23]

Housing Schemes

Pauline Tully

776. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to allow applications under the croí cónaithe vacant property grant for the refurbishment of agricultural buildings to bring them into residential use. [57154/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

781. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 98 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to review the application processes for social housing and other housing supports to ensure that they are accessible to autistic people and disabled people; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57337/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

782. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 99 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied), if he has plans to ensure that autism is regarded as a sensory disability by all local authorities for the purposes of accessing prioritised social housing provision. [57338/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

783. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 100 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied), if he has plans to provide adequate grants to allow for sensory rooms to be added to homes and the sensory proofing of homes for autistic people; and the estimated first and full year cost respectively of implementing this proposal. [57339/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

784. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 101 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to ensure that local authorities engage with schools to assist in developing suitable sensory provision for autistic children; and the estimated first and full year cost respectively of implementing this proposal. [57340/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

785. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 102 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to provide designated funding to local authorities to add sensory areas and communication boards to all playgrounds; and the estimated first and full year cost respectively of implementing this proposal. [57341/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

786. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 103 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to provide autism training to staff in local authorities and ensure that autism is accepted as a condition which qualifies for housing support; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57342/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

787. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 104 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to incentivise participation in continuing professional development courses in universal design and accessibility for architects and planners; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57343/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

788. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 105 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to liaise with professional bodies within architecture and planning to promote education in universal design and the implementation of Universal Design practices. [57344/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

789. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 106 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to engage with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to implement guidelines on making facilities and sites under their auspices more autism-friendly; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57345/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

790. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 107 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to provide autism training to tour guides and other public-facing OPW staff at heritage sites and cultural institutions; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57346/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

791. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 108 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to provide more opportunities for career development in public sector planning to retain planners; and the estimated cost of implementing this proposal. [57347/23]

Housing Policy

Pauline Tully

792. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with Action 109 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report (details supplied) if he has plans to recruit a designated Disability Officer in every local authority to advise autistic people and their families on accessing supports and assist them to complete the application process, where needed; and the estimated first and full year cost respectively of implementing this proposal. [57348/23]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

865. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 544 of 14 July 2022, the number of persons currently in receipt of a disability-related social protection payment, by the type of payment, in tabular form. [56599/23]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

874. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on disability allowance and invalidity pension who to date in 2023 have lost their entitlement to these payments entirely or have had them reduced following a change in circumstance where they now reside with a partner initiating a review of their income, in tabular form. [56668/23]

Employment Schemes

Pauline Tully

914. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection in line with Action 80 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, if she has plans to establish a State-run public employment service that builds on the good practice in the field of disability employment and which links autistic people to employers and offers support, guidance and information as well as tailored support services for participating employers; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57269/23]

Employment Schemes

Pauline Tully

915. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 81 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to engage with stakeholders including the autistic community and employers and review the wage subsidy scheme and reasonable accommodation fund with a view to promoting uptake of the schemes; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57270/23]

Employment Schemes

Pauline Tully

916. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 82 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to promote the availability and potential benefits of schemes such as the wage subsidy scheme and reasonable accommodation fund to employers; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57271/23]

Employment Schemes

Pauline Tully

917. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 83 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to amalgamate and streamline workplace support grants and the reasonable accommodation fund under one fund which employers may draw down for the purposes of accommodating an autistic or disabled employee or prospective employee; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57272/23]

Employment Schemes

Pauline Tully

918. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 84 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to initiate a review of the wage subsidy scheme through a rights-based, social lens and identify how best to update or replace the scheme; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57273/23]

Departmental Schemes

Pauline Tully

919. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 85 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to remove the minimum work hours to access the wage subsidy scheme to allow for people with disabilities to access part-time employment; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57274/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

920. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 62 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to introduce a non-means tested, targeted cost-of-disability payment for autistic people and disabled people with high levels of expenditure due to their autism diagnosis or disability; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57309/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

921. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 63 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to introduce a non-means tested, targeted cost-of-disability payment for the carers to autistic people and disabled people with high levels of expenditure due to their autism diagnosis or disability; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57310/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

922. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 64 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to introduce specific targeted supports for those with the highest additional costs due to disability, including autism; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57311/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

923. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 65 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to increase the income disregard for disability allowance and carer’s allowance to account for the high costs of disability; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57312/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

924. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 66 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to recognise the work of carers and the services they provide the State by establishing a pilot scheme for a basic income entitlement or a participation income to replace the carer’s allowance, in line with the recommendations of an organisation (details supplied) and the Joint Committee on Gender Equality; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57313/23]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

925. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in line with Action 67 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to establish a grant to assist autistic people and disabled people in paying for larger, one-off expenses; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57314/23]