Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Cullinane and McGuinness for raising the issue. At the outset, I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for me and the Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. Importantly, for myself as the Minister of State responsible, I want to try to ensure that the lead-in times for planning and making spaces available is as efficient as possible in order that stress on parents can be reduced as much as possible. Parents need to have the certainty they need for where their children will be going to school. That is crucially important.

The spend on special education is at an all-time high, with more than a quarter of the education budget allocated to special education. Since 2020, almost 1,700 new special classes have been provided, bringing the total to more than 3,330. Of the 400 new special classes sanctioned for the 2024-25 school year, 12 are in County Waterford, seven at primary level and five at post-primary level. This brings the total number of special classes in Waterford to 70, 44 at primary level and 26 at post-primary level. In addition, there are three special schools in the county. All three have expanded provision in the last number of years to accommodate more children, with St. John’s Special School and St. Martin's Special School availing of building projects in recent years. St. Martin’s currently has a project for an additional four special education classrooms, a quiet space and ancillary accommodations.

At a local level in County Waterford and indeed nationwide, the NCSE is examining which special schools have capacity to expand and is targeting medium and larger primary schools with no special class, or just one special class, to open a new special class. As schools begin to enrol students and as places become available, the NCSE will advise and support parents to ensure all children have a suitable placement for September. It is important for planning purposes that parents engage with the NCSE when seeking a special educational placement for their children.

The Deputies will know the contact details of local SENOs and I also know that parents have reached out to the public representatives in the area as well.

The need for additional special school capacity across County Waterford and the adjoining regions will be kept under review by the NCSE and the Department of Education. Specifically, in relation to St John’s Special School, Dungarvan, the NCSE is engaging directly with the school regarding the needs of the children in the local area. I assure the Deputies that both I and the Department have sought and are awaiting an update on this in terms of any potential need for additional accommodation. I am assured that the NCSE also hopes to be able to confirm additional special classes in the area over the coming weeks. In relation to new special class provision at primary level across the county more broadly, the NCSE is engaging with schools and school patron bodies to confirm new special classes to open for the coming school year. There should be progress on confirming these new special classes shortly.

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