Dáil vote · 19 February 2025

Provision of Special Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

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What this vote means

Policy motion

A policy motion expresses the House's position or calls for action. It does not itself change the law or legally require the Government to carry out the policy requested.

Tá means yes and Níl means no to the exact question put. The vote alone does not establish a TD's full position or reasons.

DáilDex interpretation of the official wording.

Oireachtas definitions

The result

Carried

Tá (yes): 87
Níl (no): 70
Staon (abstain): 0

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Denise Mitchell.

Official record Read the debate

How each party voted

Party	Tá	Níl	Staon	No vote	Most voted
Fianna Fáil	43	–	–	5	Tá
Sinn Féin	–	37	–	2	Níl
Fine Gael	35	–	–	2	Tá
Independent	9	5	–	2	No whip
Labour Party	–	10	–	1	Níl
Social Democrats	–	9	–	1	Níl
Independent Ireland	–	4	–	–	Níl
People Before Profit-Solidarity	–	1	–	2

How every TD voted

Showing 173 of 173 TDs

Aengus Ó SnodaighSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Aidan FarrellySocial Democrats · Kildare North
Níl
Aindrias MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Aisling DempseyFianna Fáil · Meath West
Tá
Alan DillonFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Alan KellyLabour Party · Tipperary North
Níl
Albert DolanFianna Fáil · Galway East
Tá
Ann GravesSinn Féin · Dublin Fingal East
Níl
Barry HeneghanIndependent · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Barry WardFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Brendan SmithFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Brian BrennanFine Gael · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Brian StanleyIndependent · Laois
Níl
Carol NolanIndependent · Offaly
Níl
Cathal CroweFianna Fáil · Clare
Tá
Catherine ArdaghFianna Fáil · Dublin South-Central
Tá
Catherine CallaghanFine Gael · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Catherine ConnollyIndependents 4 Change · Galway West
Níl
Cathy BennettSinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Charles Ward100% RDR · Donegal
No vote
Charlie McConalogueFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Christopher O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork South-West
Tá
Cian O'CallaghanSocial Democrats · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Ciarán AhernLabour Party · Dublin South-West
Níl
Claire KerraneSinn Féin · Roscommon-Galway
Níl
Colm BrophyFine Gael · Dublin South-West
Tá
Colm BurkeFine Gael · Cork North-Central
Tá
Conor D. McGuinnessSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
Conor SheehanLabour Party · Limerick City
Níl
Cormac DevlinFianna Fáil · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Danny Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
Tá
Dara CallearyFianna Fáil · Mayo
Tá
Darragh O'BrienFianna Fáil · Dublin Fingal East
Tá
Darren O'RourkeSinn Féin · Meath East
Níl
David CullinaneSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
David MaxwellFine Gael · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Denise MitchellSinn Féin · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Dessie EllisSinn Féin · Dublin North-West
Níl
Donna McGettiganSinn Féin · Clare
Níl
Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireSinn Féin · Cork South-Central
Níl
Duncan SmithLabour Party · Dublin Fingal East
Níl
Eamon ScanlonFianna Fáil · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Edward TimminsFine Gael · Wicklow
Tá
Emer CurrieFine Gael · Dublin West
Tá
Emer HigginsFine Gael · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Eoghan KennyLabour Party · Cork North-Central
Níl
Eoin HayesIndependent · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Eoin Ó BroinSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Erin McGreehanFianna Fáil · Louth
Tá
Fionntán Ó SúilleabháinSinn Féin · Wicklow-Wexford
Níl
Frankie FeighanFine Gael · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Gary GannonSocial Democrats · Dublin Central
Níl
Ged NashLabour Party · Louth
Níl
George LawlorLabour Party · Wexford
Níl
Gillian TooleIndependent · Meath East
Tá
Grace BolandFine Gael · Dublin Fingal West
Tá
Helen McEnteeFine Gael · Meath East
Tá
Hildegarde NaughtonFine Gael · Galway West
Tá
Holly CairnsSocial Democrats · Cork South-West
No vote
Ivana BacikLabour Party · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Jack ChambersFianna Fáil · Dublin West
Tá
James BrowneFianna Fáil · Wexford
Tá
James GeogheganFine Gael · Dublin Bay South
Tá
James LawlessFianna Fáil · Kildare North
No vote
James O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Cork East
Tá
Jen CumminsSocial Democrats · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Jennifer Carroll MacNeillFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Jennifer WhitmoreSocial Democrats · Wicklow
Níl
Jerry ButtimerFine Gael · Cork South-Central
Tá
Jim O'CallaghanFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay South
Tá
Joanna ByrneSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Joe CooneyFine Gael · Clare
Tá
Joe NevilleFine Gael · Kildare North
Tá
John BradySinn Féin · Wicklow
Níl
John ClendennenFine Gael · Offaly
Tá
John ConnollyFianna Fáil · Galway West
Tá
John CumminsFine Gael · Waterford
Tá
John LahartFianna Fáil · Dublin South-West
Tá
John McGuinnessFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
John Paul O'SheaFine Gael · Cork North-West
Tá
Johnny GuirkeSinn Féin · Meath West
No vote
Johnny MythenSinn Féin · Wexford
Níl
Keira KeoghFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Ken O'FlynnIndependent Ireland · Cork North-Central
Níl
Kevin Boxer MoranIndependent · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Kieran O'DonnellFine Gael · Limerick City
Tá
Liam QuaideSocial Democrats · Cork East
Níl
Louis O'HaraSinn Féin · Galway East
Níl
Louise O'ReillySinn Féin · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Maeve O'ConnellFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Máire DevineSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Mairéad FarrellSinn Féin · Galway West
Níl
Malcolm ByrneFianna Fáil · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Marian HarkinIndependent · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Marie SherlockLabour Party · Dublin Central
No vote
Mark WallLabour Party · Kildare South
Níl
Mark WardSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Martin DalyFianna Fáil · Roscommon-Galway
Tá
Martin HeydonFine Gael · Kildare South
Tá
Martin KennySinn Féin · Sligo-Leitrim
Níl
Mary ButlerFianna Fáil · Waterford
Tá
Mary Lou McDonaldSinn Féin · Dublin Central
No vote
Matt CarthySinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Mattie McGrathIndependent · Tipperary South
Níl
Maurice QuinlivanSinn Féin · Limerick City
Níl
Michael CahillFianna Fáil · Kerry
Tá
Michael CollinsIndependent Ireland · Cork South-West
Níl
Michael FitzmauriceIndependent Ireland · Roscommon-Galway
Níl
Michael Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
Tá
Michael LowryIndependent · Tipperary North
Tá
Michael MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Michael MurphyFine Gael · Tipperary South
Tá
Micheál CarrigyFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Micheál MartinFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
Tá
Naoise Ó CearúilFianna Fáil · Kildare North
No vote
Naoise Ó MuiríFine Gael · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Natasha Newsome DrennanSinn Féin · Carlow-Kilkenny
Níl
Neale RichmondFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Niall CollinsFianna Fáil · Limerick County
Tá
Niamh SmythFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Noel GrealishIndependent · Galway West
Tá
Noel McCarthyFine Gael · Cork East
Tá
Norma FoleyFianna Fáil · Kerry
No vote
Pa DalySinn Féin · Kerry
Níl
Pádraig Mac LochlainnSinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Pádraig O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork North-Central
No vote
Pádraig RiceSocial Democrats · Cork South-Central
Níl
Pat BuckleySinn Féin · Cork East
Níl
Pat the Cope GallagherFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Patrick O'DonovanFine Gael · Limerick County
No vote
Paul DonnellySinn Féin · Dublin West
Níl
Paul LawlessAontú · Mayo
Níl
Paul McAuliffeFianna Fáil · Dublin North-West
Tá
Paul MurphyPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin South-West
No vote
Paul Nicholas GogartyIndependent · Dublin Mid-West
No vote
Paula ButterlyFine Gael · Louth
Tá
Peadar TóibínAontú · Meath West
Níl
Pearse DohertySinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Peter 'Chap' CleereFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Peter BurkeFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Peter RocheFine Gael · Galway East
Tá
Réada CroninSinn Féin · Kildare North
Níl
Richard Boyd BarrettPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dún Laoghaire
Níl
Richard O'DonoghueIndependent Ireland · Limerick County
Níl
Robert O'DonoghueLabour Party · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Robert TroyFianna Fáil · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Roderic O'GormanGreen Party · Dublin West
Níl
Rory HearneSocial Democrats · Dublin North-West
Níl
Rose Conway-WalshSinn Féin · Mayo
Níl
Ruairí Ó MurchúSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Ruth CoppingerPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin West
No vote
Ryan O'MearaFianna Fáil · Tipperary North
Tá
Seamus HealyIndependent · Tipperary South
Níl
Séamus McGrathFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
Tá
Seán CanneyIndependent · Galway East
Tá
Seán CroweSinn Féin · Dublin South-West
Níl
Sean FlemingFianna Fáil · Laois
Tá
Seán Ó FearghaílFianna Fáil · Kildare South
Tá
Shane MoynihanFianna Fáil · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Shay BrennanFianna Fáil · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Shónagh Ní RaghallaighSinn Féin · Kildare South
Níl
Simon HarrisFine Gael · Wicklow
No vote
Sinéad GibneySocial Democrats · Dublin Rathdown
Níl
Sorca ClarkeSinn Féin · Longford-Westmeath
Níl
Thomas ByrneFianna Fáil · Meath East
Tá
Thomas GouldSinn Féin · Cork North-Central
Níl
Timmy DooleyFianna Fáil · Clare
Tá
Tom BrabazonFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Tony McCormackFianna Fáil · Offaly
Tá
Verona MurphyIndependent · Wexford
No vote
William AirdFine Gael · Laois
Tá
Willie O'DeaFianna Fáil · Limerick City
No vote

The full text TDs voted on

This vote decided the motion as amended. Earlier in this debate amendment No. 1 replaced the original wording, so Tá supported the amendment's text below, not the original motion.

A motion can bundle several proposals together. Tá or Níl applies to the whole question put, so a TD may agree with one part and still vote against it because of another. Read the full wording, and the debate where TDs gave their reasons, before treating this vote as a position on any single point.

The motion as movedMoved by Deputy Darren O’Rourke on Tuesday, 18 February 2025

That Dáil Éireann:
recognises:
— the fundamental right of every child to access the education system;
— the current and projected demand for special education placements is growing;
— the current shortage of special classes and appropriate school places, leaving children, particularly those with additional needs, without access to suitable education;
— the trauma and absolute heartbreak endured by parents and families due to the lack of suitable school places;
— the failure of successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments to adequately plan for, and invest in, the expansion of special education;
— the lack of coordination between the Department of Education, the National Council for Special Education and schools, resulting in a fragmented and inefficient system;
— the disproportionate impact on children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who face even greater barriers to accessing appropriate education; and
— the current state of special education is unacceptable and fails to uphold the rights of children with additional needs; and
calls on the Government to:
— immediately expand the number of special school places, special classes and special education teaching hours across the State;
— ensure every child currently without a suitable school place, and all those due to start Primary or Post-Primary Schools in September, 2025, have access to a suitable school place within a reasonable distance from their home;
— enact the Education (Inclusion of Persons) Bill 2023, and the Education (Amendment) Bill 2024, to identify demand, gaps in provision, and to develop a long-term strategy for special education;
— ensure meaningful consultation and greater collaboration between education authorities and school leaders in special education planning and delivery, and to address the shortage in special schools and special class placements;
— streamline the process for opening new special classes and provide additional funding and resources for schools opening new special classes;
— invest in recruitment and continuous professional development for teachers and Special Needs Assistants to ensure they are supported to meet the diverse needs of students in special classes, and this must include addressing the root causes of the recruitment and retention crisis in the education and disability sectors; and
— expand the Educational Therapy Support Service, to help build the capacity of school communities to meet student's needs.

Amendment No. 1Decided in this voteMoved by Minister for Education

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that:
- a child's right to education is enshrined in the Constitution and, under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, must be accessible on an equal basis with others in the community in which they live; and
- the Government is committed to ensuring that each child with a special educational need has an appropriate school place, in line with their Constitutional right and Programme for Government commitments;
further notes:
- the continued significant State investment of €2.9 billion in supporting the provision of special education, a 48 per cent increase since 2020;
- the increase in the allocation of Special Education Teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in our schools;
- the strategic initiatives introduced to provide for the continued accelerated delivery of special class places in mainstream schools and special school places, with the number of special classes having doubled over the last five years and 16 new special schools being established;
- the work being progressed to provide up to another 400 new special classes and 300 additional special school places for the coming school year, to ensure that every child known to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has an appropriate school place;
- the significant investment in the expansion of staffing at the NCSE to assist families of children with SEN in all aspects of their educational journey, including accessing a placement appropriate to their needs;
- the ongoing engagement between the NCSE, the Department of Education, school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools, in relation to the forward planning of special education provision, which has yielded additional classes in every county at primary- and post-primary level in recent years;
- the enactment of the Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Needs) Act 2022, which provides a power to compel schools to make additional provision for children with SEN and for the NCSE to direct schools to admit children with SEN;
- the establishment of the D15 Taskforce to support forward planning for special education provision in the area, and to support the trial of a common application system for special classes;

Wording as published in the official Dáil record, unedited. Read the debate