Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I understand that it is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their children. I reassure the Deputy that this Government is determined to do all it can to help families that are seeking a special educational placement for their child. My Department is working closely with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.

In the budget last year, funding was secured for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and an additional 300 special school places for the 2024-25 school year. This will deliver 2,700 places for children. The NCSE has advised my Department that more than 320 new special classes have already been sanctioned nationwide for the coming 2024-25 school year, providing more than 1,900 special education places in mainstream schools. There are now more than 3,000 special classes in our education system providing places for more than 20,000 students. We have also opened four new special schools for September 2024 and increased capacity in a number of existing special schools to ensure that more children than ever can access an education that is appropriate to their needs.

My Department and the NCSE are actively engaging with school patrons and management bodies to ensure additional special classes for the coming school year are provided in areas where they are needed. I expect these remaining new special classes will be finalised in the coming weeks and that this additional provision, coupled with vacancies in existing special classes, will provide the additional capacity needed. It is also important to note that there are vacancies in existing special classes as children move from primary to post-primary or leave our school system. These places are filled on an ongoing basis.

The NCSE is working with schools that may be available to open classes for September 2024 but whose capacity may not be required at this time. They will remain options for additional provision if required throughout the 2024-25 school year.

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