Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As I mentioned, in Meath, 24 new special classes will open for the 2023-2024 year, comprising 17 at primary and seven at post primary, amounting to a provision of 133 special classes providing for 798 pupils.

In regard to the census figures, there has been an increase in population of 8% since 2016, but any change arising from the census is taken into account when we forward-plan not just for special classes but for school accommodation in general. That is because we already have the precise enrolment numbers for all the children covered by the census. The only immediate change, therefore, is likely to relate to the projected intake for infant classes next September, but that will have been tracked through the monitoring of child benefit data.

That might give the Deputy some comfort in the context of the forward planning for Louth and east Meath. I outlined the number of new special classes that will be sanctioned for September.

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