Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Regarding De La Salle College in Dundalk, my understanding is that, last October, five students were accepted into its ASD unit for the semester starting in September 2023. However, on 26 March of this year, the school called to state it could no longer offer a place to any of the students. The reason given to parents was that the Department of Education was not providing the promised classroom.

Deputy Ó Murchú is correct about the typo in the date. It should read “Q4 2023”.

The Department will continue to work with the NCSE, particularly on planning for special classes and special school places in counties Louth and Tipperary and nationwide – this work is under way – ahead of the 2024-25 school year. The location of new classes for that year will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly. As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years due to increasing demographics and prevalence rates, the Department and the NCSE have engaged with the post-primary stakeholders on the provision of special classes. The Department has communicated to post-primary schools nationwide about the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next two to four years, with an approximate average of four special classes in each school. The Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure that all children are successful in accessing education.

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